In an unprecedented move, 12 Western countries announced in a joint statement their intention to impose national restrictions and bans on the import and trade of goods and products manufactured in Israeli settlements established in the occupied West Bank.
The countries that signed the statement:
France | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 🇪🇸 Spain | 🇫🇮 Finland | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 🇳🇴 Norway | 🇵🇱 Poland | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 🇸🇪 Sweden
Key Points of the Statement:
• Confronting settlement expansion: The countries described the escalation of settler violence and the expansion of settlements—particularly the E1 project—as “unacceptable,” warning that they constitute a destructive obstacle to the two-state solution and violate the principles of international law.
• Practical measures: The participating countries confirmed that they are moving to activate mechanisms for directly banning or restricting trade in products originating from these settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.