Republican lawmakers are speaking up against recent moves by European countries to impose new sanctions and trade restrictions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

The latest restrictions took effect in the Netherlands on Sept. 22, when the country began barring goods obtained or produced wholly or partly in Israeli settlements from entering the country, including products carried by private travelers. Violations can carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison. Israel has since revoked the diplomatic status of Dutch diplomats serving in Ramallah.

On Sept. 9, the United Kingdom announced that it would ban imports produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and impose sanctions on companies and individuals involved in settlement construction, financing and related services, while also prohibiting the advertising of settlement properties and goods. France, Canada and other European countries have also committed to — or have already implemented — restrictions involving goods from Israeli settlements, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) told Jewish Insider he was “disappointed” by the European measures and argued that Israel should be receiving greater support from those governments.

“First off, I’m disappointed. We ought to be supporting the only democracy in the Middle East, somebody that is part of making sure Europe is safe because Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon,” Scott said. “I think they ought to be thanking Israel rather than targeting them.”

Asked whether the Trump administration should respond to the European measures, Scott said he believes the White House is already working to address them.

“I think they are, they’re working hard,” he said.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) likewise criticized the sanctions, arguing that they represent another effort by European governments to pressure Israel over its settlement policy.

“That sounds anti-Israel to me. I don’t support it. I think that’s a bad deal,” Hawley said. “The European states have been anti-Israel forever, and I just think this is the latest iteration of that. It sounds a lot like the BDS movement just sort of laundered now into a different form. So no, I don’t like that at all.”

Hawley also said he expects the Trump administration to retaliate in some form against the European measures, pointing to the president’s previous statements on the issue.

“Well, I assume they will. The president has been very vocal about this, so I hope we’ll continue [to be],” Hawley said.

Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) focused specifically on reports that Dutch customs officials had inspected the luggage of passengers arriving from Israel, calling the reported searches “intrusive” and “unconscionable.”

“The new Dutch BDS law forces Americans and American companies to undergo intrusive searches and prove that they do not possess any goods from Jerusalem or Judea and Samaria,” Tenney wrote on social media. “This is absolutely unconscionable and @USTreasury should IMMEDIATELY add the Netherlands to the list of countries requiring cooperation with a boycott under Section 999 of the Internal Revenue Code.”

Reports provided indicate that passengers were not searched writ large and that some goods were confiscated during routine customs searches.

Scott acknowledged the possibility that Democrats could pursue similar policies in the U.S. if they regain control of Congress. JI has previously reported that should Democrats retake one or both chambers, they could bring up  legislation targeting Israeli settlement activity and settler violence.

“Democrats don’t support Israel. They don’t. They don’t fight antisemitism. If you care about stopping hatred in this country, you’re clearly not going to vote for a Democrat,” Scott said.

Several Democratic lawmakers said they were not yet familiar with the European measures and declined to comment.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), the sponsor of legislation targeting companies and Israeli officials involved in settlement construction in the E1 area of the West Bank, drew a distinction between the European restrictions and his bill. 

“Look, I think there’s a lot of concern here about settlement expansion and how to send a strong signal to discourage significant settlement expansion, particularly the E1 block,” Coons said. “I recognize that is distinct from some position blocking exports from settlements. I do think after our elections and the Israeli elections, there’s going to be some serious conversations about our long-term relationship and how to ensure that the West Bank continues to be a place in which there may be a viable future for a Palestinian territory.”