Britain and 11 countries announce measures against illegal Israeli settlements
- New trade restrictions to counter settlement expansion and protect the two-state solution
The foreign ministers of the United Kingdom and 11 other countries issued a joint statement today, Tuesday, as part of a coordinated international effort to protect the two-state solution, announcing 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 the UK, stated that these measures were taken to protect the two-state solution, which is threatened by the practices of the Israeli occupation government in the West Bank.
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The statement added that "the situation is deteriorating rapidly due to unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion, including the unacceptable decision to issue tenders for the (1E) settlement project."
It noted that "UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed on the necessity of taking action to prevent further damage."
The countries affirmed their "determination 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, the UK, 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."
