Twelve countries, including France, the United Kingdom and Canada, have announced plans to restrict trade in goods originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, marking a coordinated move against settlement activity.
The West Bank settlement trade ban measures were announced on September 8 by the foreign ministers of France, the UK, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
The countries said the situation in the West Bank had deteriorated rapidly amid unprecedented settler violence and continued settlement expansion. They said Israeli actions in the territory were undermining the two-state solution.
France, UK and Canada to Pursue National Measures
French Foreign Minister Barrou said France would begin a nationwide procedure to ban products originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
France and 11 other countries issued a joint statement committing to restrict trade involving goods from settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Barrou also called on the European Union to take corresponding action.
The foreign ministers called on Israel to immediately stop expanding settlements and extending civil administration. They also called for accountability over settler violence.
UK Announces Import Ban and New Settlement Sanctions
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told the House of Commons that the British government would introduce a ban on imports of goods originating from illegal settlements in the Occupied West Bank.
The UK will also establish a new comprehensive sanctions regime with appropriate religious exemptions, according to the foreign secretary.
British measures will target specific companies and individuals involved in construction, infrastructure, financing or real estate services that facilitate settlement expansion. UK firms will also face restrictions on providing financing, construction and advertising services for new settlements.
Miliband said the measures were aimed at the actions of the Israeli government rather than the Israeli people. He said full implementation of the two-state solution would guide the UK government’s policy.
UK Also Announces Iran and Hezbollah-Linked Measures
Separately, the UK foreign secretary said Britain was imposing major economic sanctions on Iran.
The UK is also sanctioning Al-Qard al-Hasan, identified in the announcement as the financing institution of Hezbollah.
The foreign secretary announced one new designation under the anti-terrorism sanctions regime and five new designations under the global human rights sanctions regime.
Miliband said the UK and Israel would continue cooperating on shared national security interests.
Q1. Which countries are involved in the West Bank settlement trade restrictions?
France, the UK, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden announced plans to restrict trade in goods from Israeli settlements.
Q2. What will France do under the new measures?
France will launch a nationwide procedure to ban products originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Q3. What measures has the UK announced against West Bank settlements?
The UK will ban imports of goods from illegal settlements and restrict financing, construction and advertising services that facilitate new settlement expansion.
Q4. Why are the 12 countries taking action?
The foreign ministers said the West Bank situation had rapidly deteriorated due to unprecedented settler violence and settlement expansion, while Israeli actions were undermining the two-state solution.
Q5. What other sanctions did the UK announce?
The UK announced major economic sanctions on Iran, sanctions on Al-Qard al-Hasan, one new anti-terrorism designation and five new global human rights sanctions designations.
