Roundup: 12 countries move toward tighter trade curbs on Israeli settlements

BRUSSELS, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of 12 countries moved on Tuesday to tighten restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as mounting settlement expansion and violence fuel growing concerns over the viability of a two-state solution. Foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Britain said in a joint statement that they intended to introduce national restrictions, support European measures, or were actively considering other steps in line with their national procedures. The ministers said the situation in the West Bank was "rapidly deteriorating" amid what they described as unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion. Among the 12 countries, Britain, France and Canada said they would bring forward national measures to ban trade in settlement goods, while welcoming steps already taken by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium. Britain on Tuesday announced some of the most detailed measures so far. Speaking in the House of Commons, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain would introduce a ban on imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. He said that Britain would also establish a new sanctions regime targeting specific companies and individuals providing construction, infrastructure, financing or real estate services that contribute to settlement expansion. Advertising in Britain for property in Israeli settlements would also be prohibited. Miliband announced a shift in Britain's legal position, saying the British government now considered Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories unlawful. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X that France would "end trade" with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, adding that France could not, through its trade, support a situation that threatened Israelis, Palestinians and regional stability. He also urged Europe to adopt the same approach. Some other European countries have already been moving in a similar direction. Spain has already prohibited imports of settlement goods and related commercial advertising. Belgium has decided to introduce an import ban and in July approved draft implementing rules under which permits for goods originating from Israeli settlements would be refused. Ireland has approved draft legislation to ban imports of settlement goods. The Netherlands has adopted a national ban on the import, purchase and sale of settlement goods, as well as related intermediary services, which will take effect on Sept. 22, while Norway has put proposed legislation banning imports from and exports to settlements out for public consultation. The EU has also stepped up sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers. On May 28, it listed four entities and three individuals over serious human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank. The measures include asset freezes, funding bans and travel restrictions. The bloc, however, has yet to impose an EU-wide ban on trade with Israeli settlements. The latest push for tougher measures followed Israel's advancement of the E1 settlement project in the West Bank in August by issuing a tender for 1,234 housing units. According to the tender published online by Israel's Ministry of Construction and Housing, the project covers part of a broader plan to build 3,401 housing units in the E1 area east of Jerusalem. The 12 foreign ministers said the E1 decision was among the developments undermining prospects for a Palestinian state and called on the Israeli government to immediately halt settlement expansion and ensure accountability for settler violence. Israeli President Isaac Herzog criticised the planned British move on Tuesday, calling sanctions a "grave miscalculation." The 12 ministers also reiterated their condemnation of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and recognized Israel's legitimate security interests. They reaffirmed support for a two-state solution under which Israel and a sovereign, democratic and viable Palestinian state would live side by side in peace and security within internationally recognized borders. ■