Twelve countries, including France, the United Kingdom and Canada, have announced plans to tighten trade measures linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied
West Bank, marking a fresh diplomatic move over the expansion of settlements and rising violence in the region.
The joint statement, issued on September 8, includes France, the UK, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden. The countries said they intend to introduce national restrictions, support European restrictions, or are actively considering measures on trade in goods from settlements regarded as illegal under international law.
France, UK and Canada plan national trade bans
France, the UK and Canada went a step further in the statement, saying they will bring forward national measures to ban trade in goods originating from Israeli settlements.
The three countries also welcomed steps already taken by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium.
The statement comes amid growing international concern over settlement expansion in the West Bank. The governments described current levels of settler violence and settlement growth as “unprecedented” and criticised the decision to publish tenders for the E1 settlement project.
The E1 project has drawn repeated criticism from several governments. A separate joint statement issued in August said the project could damage the territorial continuity of a future Palestinian state.
What the 12 countries are demanding from Israel
The foreign ministers called on the Israeli government to immediately halt settlement expansion and the expansion of civilian administrative powers in the West Bank.
They also called for accountability over settler violence and investigations into allegations involving Israeli forces.
The statement said, “We firmly oppose actions tantamount to the annexation of Palestinian land and forcible displacement of the Palestinian population.”
At the same time, the governments recognised Israel’s security concerns and again condemned the Hamas-led October 7 attack.
The 12 countries reaffirmed support for a two-state solution under relevant UN Security Council resolutions, with Israel and a sovereign Palestinian state living within secure and internationally recognised borders.
The announcement adds trade measures to the growing diplomatic pressure surrounding Israeli settlement activity, with individual governments now expected to decide how and when their proposed restrictions will be implemented.
