Millions of dollars of organic dates grown in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank have been exported to Australia labelled as "produce of Israel", a trade data analysis by the human rights organisation Global Echo has shown. The analysis found that 85 of 132 agricultural shipments from Israel to Australia between August 2018 and August 2026 contained settlement products, with the proportion rising in recent years. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has described the settlements as illegal but said the government is not pursuing a blanket import ban.
The settlements where dates bound for Australia are grown include Netiv Hagdud, Beit Haarava, Arvot Jericho, Hamra, Tomer, Mechora and Naaran, all in occupied parts of the West Bank that Australia recognises as part of the state of Palestine. Israel's settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law.
In September, Wong told the Senate that the government called on Israel to stop settlers from destroying properties, displacing families and attacking Palestinians, but she expressed concerns about the implementation of a blanket ban on settlement goods and unintended consequences for Australian businesses. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Australia is pursuing further targeted measures, in coordination with international partners, to deter illegal settlements and settler violence.
Israel's ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, told The Australian the settlement issue had been "blown out of proportion" and that Australia should not follow the UK's example. The UK, along with Spain, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands, has announced or imposed trade bans on settlement goods. In announcing the UK ban, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said "settler terrorists" were committing ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.
Global Echo's executive director, Emily Schaeffer Omer-Man, said settlement agriculture is used as a means of large-scale land grab and creeping annexation, which Israeli government officials and politicians have openly declared over decades. She said Australian consumers of Israeli dates and other agricultural products are quite likely contributing to the ongoing occupation and settlement of Palestinian land. Sarah Sanbar of Human Rights Watch said international trade is one of the lifelines of illegal settlements, which she described as inextricably linked to human rights abuses.
Between January 2025 and August 2026, 20 of 24 date shipments to Australia came from settlements. The value of the organic date shipments alone was at least US$5 million (A$7.2 million) over eight years. There is no law in Australia banning imports from settlement areas, and no requirement that those goods be labelled as originating from occupied land.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Australian consumers may unknowingly be supporting the settlement economy through mislabelled imports.
- The government's refusal to impose a blanket ban despite calling the settlements illegal creates a policy gap that could grow as European markets close.
- The rising share of settlement goods in recent shipments suggests exporters are shifting stock to markets with fewer restrictions.
Background
Israel's settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law. Australia recognises the West Bank as part of the state of Palestine but has no law banning imports from settlement areas or requiring special labelling. The UK, Spain, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands have announced or imposed trade bans on settlement goods. In June 2026, Global Echo released a report detailing how Israeli exporters hide the origin of settlement produce to qualify for tax breaks in European markets.
Key Perspectives
Global Echo: says settlement goods make up the majority of Israeli agricultural imports to Australia, and that Australia is a market where these goods "fly under the radar".
Penny Wong (Australian Foreign Minister): says the settlements are illegal but Australia is not pursuing a blanket import ban because of concerns about implementation and unintended consequences for Australian businesses.
DFAT spokesperson: says Australia is pursuing further targeted measures with international partners to deter illegal settlements and settler violence.
Hillel Newman (Israeli ambassador to Australia): says the settlement issue has been "blown out of proportion" and that Australia should not follow the UK's example.
Sarah Sanbar (Human Rights Watch): says international trade is a lifeline of illegal settlements, which are inextricably linked to human rights abuses.
Ed Miliband (UK Foreign Secretary): in announcing the UK trade ban, said "settler terrorists" were committing ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.
What to Watch
- Whether Australia introduces any new measures targeting settlement goods following pressure from human rights groups and European allies.
- The possibility of legal challenges by Australian businesses affected by any future restrictions.
- Whether the Israeli government adjusts export labelling practices in response to scrutiny.