Israeli settlements threaten two-state peace, leaders say

French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on September 8, 2026, that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank posed a 'direct and urgent threat' to a two-state solution. The three leaders issued a joint statement after 12 countries, including Britain, Canada and France, announced that they would sanction trade with Israeli settlements after increasing attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the occupied territory. Macron, Burnham and Carney said a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was critical for peace, stability and security in the Middle East and beyond. They said it was a fundamental national interest for Britain and France to protect that outcome. The leaders cited systematic settlement expansion in the West Bank, the Israeli government's latest decision to progress the E1 settlement and what they called a dramatic increase in settler violence. The E1 plan, approved by Israel last year after decades of being frozen, would involve 1,200 housing units in the West Bank. Macron, Burnham and Carney said their countries would take steps to ban imports of goods from settlements and enforce targeted measures against settlements and those who facilitate or profit from them. They said the three countries would co-chair a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly later this month to advance peace efforts. The leaders also said they wanted a close and productive partnership with Israel and were committed to Israel's security. Macron, Burnham and Carney said their countries would take steps to ban imports from settlements. They said their countries would enforce targeted measures against settlements and those who facilitate or profit from them. They said their countries would co-chair a UN General Assembly meeting later this month on peace efforts. The item gives the E1 plan figure of 1,200 housing units. Source note: AFP news report published on 8 September 2026 at 16:45:15 UTC. AFP news report published on Sep 8, 2026, 4:26 PM UTC .