Twelve countries, including UK and France, announce trade sanctions on West Bank settlements

The United Kingdom and France were among 12 countries that announced new trade sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday. They described the situation as “rapidly deteriorating,” citing increasing settler attacks on Palestinians. Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden joined the UK and France in confirming plans to restrict trade with settlements, according to a joint statement from the countries’ foreign ministers.

The joint statement said, “The Government of Israel’s actions in the West Bank are undermining the possibility of a two-State solution,” and cited “unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion.” It added, “Together, we are resolute: the two-state solution must be protected, and we will take action in pursuit of a just and lasting peace.” The ministers also called the Israeli government’s decision to publish tenders “unacceptable.” The tenders were for the construction of around 1,200 housing units in the West Bank, a step the Israeli government took last month and that drew widespread condemnation from the international community and human rights groups. The units are destined for the E1 settlement area, which would further isolate East Jerusalem from the rest of the territory.

Speaking to parliament on Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband accused “settler terrorists” of “ethnic cleansing” in areas of the West Bank and said the Israeli government had often “turned a blind eye to this.” He announced that the UK would introduce an “import ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories.” He told MPs, “I do not believe the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops and supermarkets.”

In a post on X, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Paris had decided to enforce the sanctions because the West Bank was “on the brink of explosion.” He cited “unchecked expansion of settlements in violation of international law, a surge in violence committed by extremist settlers against Palestinians, and acts of terror condemned by the Israeli authorities themselves.”

Later on Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham issued a statement describing the measures as “carefully judged, targeted steps that are not aimed at the Israeli people, but at the unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government.” He said, “Before I became Prime Minister, I said our country’s response had been too slow and simply not good enough. That’s why I committed to changing the government’s approach.” The joint statement said Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney “have agreed on the need to take action to prevent further damage.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar ordered the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem on Tuesday in response to the UK’s moves. Sa’ar said of Miliband’s statement in Parliament, “The accusations made today by the foreign secretary in the British Parliament were outrageous lies.” Israel has also announced that it will refuse entry to 12 British nationals.