UK, France and 10 other nations sanction Israeli settlements in West Bank
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Twelve countries, including the UK and France, imposed trade sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The UK banned imports of all goods produced in settlements and called for an immediate halt to settlement expansion. France announced it would end trade with Israeli settlements, citing rising settler violence.
Key Facts
- The UK banned imports of all goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
- France announced it would end trade with Israeli settlements.
- The UK, France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden supported the sanctions.
- UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called for an immediate halt to settlement expansion.
- France's foreign minister said the West Bank was 'close to exploding'.
The Sanctions
Twelve countries, including the UK and France, imposed trade sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The UK banned imports of all goods produced in settlements and extended restrictions to financing, construction, infrastructure, real estate and advertising services. France announced it would end trade with Israeli settlements, with its foreign ministry saying the move was part of a joint initiative with the UK and Canada. The participating countries also included Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
Official Reactions
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described the treatment of Palestinians in parts of the West Bank as ethnic cleansing and criticised settler violence. Miliband said the expansion of illegal settlements must be stopped immediately. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the West Bank was 'close to exploding' and pointed to rapid settlement expansion and rising far-right settler violence against Palestinians.
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