Egypt welcomes Netherlands' decision to ban trade in goods, products, and items from Israeli settlements

Cairo – Khadija Hamouda Egypt welcomed yesterday the Dutch government’s decision to ban the trade in goods originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Egyptians Abroad, Egypt affirmed that this step represents support for the values of justice and a practical and responsible implementation of the principles of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy, foremost among them United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which affirms the illegality of settlement activity and calls for its immediate cessation to avoid undermining the prospects for peace and the two-state solution. From its firm and supportive stance toward the Palestinian cause, Egypt called on all European Union countries and the international community to follow the example of Belgium and the Netherlands and to adopt similar legal measures to ban settlement products. Egypt stressed that security and peace in the Middle East can only be achieved by ending the occupation and enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate right to self-determination, foremost of which is the establishment of their independent, sovereign state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.