Foreign ministers of Britain and 11 countries announce measures against illegal Israeli settlements

London, Sept 8 (KUNA) -- The foreign ministers of Britain and 11 other countries issued a joint statement on Tuesday as part of a coordinated international move to protect the two-state solution, calling for measures against illegal Israeli settlements. The statement, issued by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Britain, said these actions were taken to safeguard the two-state solution, which is threatened by practices of the Israeli occupation government in the West Bank. It added that “the situation is deteriorating rapidly amid unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion, including the unacceptable decision to issue tenders for the 1E settlement project.” It noted that “British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed on the necessity of taking measures to prevent further damage.” The countries affirmed their resolve to impose national restrictions and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods with settlements deemed illegal under international law, in accordance with their national procedures. In this regard, Britain, France, and Canada welcomed “the significant measures already taken by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium,” indicating that they would introduce national measures to ban trade in settlement goods. These countries stated that “the Israeli occupation government must immediately halt settlement expansion and administrative civil authorities, ensure accountability for perpetrators of settler violence, and investigate allegations against Israeli forces.” The statement reaffirmed clear commitment to “the two-state solution in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.” (End) ASH / AMS