The foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK announced in a joint written statement that they had decided to ban trade with illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The statement said Israel's actions in the West Bank were weakening the two-state solution and that the situation was worsening by the day. It drew attention to acts of violence carried out by Israelis who seize Palestinian land and stressed the need to preserve the two-state solution.
UK to impose import ban and sanctions
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement to the UK Parliament that the import of goods shipped to the UK from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories would be banned.
Miliband argued that Israel had exercised its right to self-defense after October 7, 2023. He claimed that Iran continued to threaten Israel and Jews, and said sanctions had been imposed on Iranian institutions and individuals, as well as groups under Iran's influence.
Stating that Iran must not possess a nuclear weapon, Miliband announced that they would refer violations related to Iran's nuclear program to the United Nations Security Council. Announcing new sanctions against Iran and Hezbollah, Miliband said that confronting these threats constituted shared national security concerns with Israel.
Miliband argued that Jews in the UK and around the world were living in fear and said his support for Israel would continue. He said this did not conflict with supporting a Palestinian state, adding that the two-state solution was the only path for Palestinians and Israelis. He described what has happened in Gaza as an indelible stain on the conscience of the world and the UK.
Economic measures targeting settlements
Miliband said approximately 770,000 Israelis lived in illegal settlements built in the occupied Palestinian territories and stated that about 4,000 Palestinians had been displaced in a short period as a result of attacks by the Israeli state and Israelis seeking to seize Palestinian land.
Miliband said the UK's official position was that the Israeli occupation was unlawful because it sought to make its control permanent, expand sovereignty and pursue an expansionist policy through illegal settlements. He said this assessment would also be reflected in economic relations.
Reiterating that the UK government would ban imports of goods from illegal settlements, Miliband announced that action would also be taken against certain individuals and companies providing construction, infrastructure, financing and real estate services for the expansion of the settlements. He said those who facilitated the establishment or expansion of settlements would face sanctions.
France also announces end to trade
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said France would end trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Barrot said the decision was taken because the situation in the West Bank had reached the brink of explosion, the seizure of Palestinian land was continuing and violence against Palestinians was increasing.
Barrot said these developments threatened the two-state solution and called on the Israeli authorities to end illegal settlements and the acts of violence associated with them. He said Europe should also demonstrate the same determination.
British diplomats conveyed to US officials in private discussions that the decision was largely symbolic and would have no tangible impact on commercial or security ties with Israel, amid concerns that the sanctions could cause a deterioration in US-UK relations.
