Spain, UK, France, Canada, and eight other countries will impose sanctions on products originating from illegal settlements in the West Bank

Eduardo González The governments of Spain and eleven other countries signed a joint declaration on Tuesday warning that the actions of the State of Israel in the West Bank are undermining the possibility of a two-state solution and announcing their intention to impose sanctions on products originating from illegal settlements. “The actions of the Government of Israel in the West Bank are undermining the possibility of a two-state solution,” begins the text, adopted by Spain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. “The situation is deteriorating rapidly amid unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion, including the unacceptable decision to issue tenders for the E1 settlement project,” it continues. The text recalls that “UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have all agreed on the need to take measures to prevent further harm,” and in this regard, the twelve signatory countries “confirm their intention to introduce national restrictions and/or support European restrictions on trade in products originating from settlements that are illegal under international law, or that they are actively considering these and other measures, in accordance with their national procedures.” “In this respect, the UK, France, and Canada welcome the important measures already taken by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium, and will propose national measures to prohibit trade in products originating from the settlements,” it adds. “Eleven countries are joining Spain in putting an end to trade in products from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory,” Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares posted on social media. “The settlements and settler violence in the West Bank hinder the two-state solution and lasting peace,” he concluded. “Together, we stand firm: the two-state solution must be protected, and we will take steps toward a just and lasting peace, based on the principles enshrined in the New York Declaration adopted a year ago,” the declaration continues. “We firmly oppose actions that amount to the annexation of Palestinian territory and the forced displacement of the Palestinian population,” it adds. Therefore, the signatory countries warn the Israeli government that it “must immediately halt the expansion of settlements and civil administrative powers, ensure accountability for settler violence, and investigate allegations against Israeli forces.” “We recognize Israel’s legitimate security interests and reiterate our condemnation of the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, the worst antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust.” “Our determination to combat antisemitism wherever it occurs is unwavering,” the statement affirms. However, it concludes, “we are unequivocally committed to the two-state solution, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, which would allow Israel and a sovereign, democratic, and viable Palestinian state to live together in peace, security, and mutual recognition within secure and internationally recognized borders.”

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