Twelve countries consider trade restrictions on Israeli settlement goods

Foreign ministers from 12 countries announced on Tuesday their support for, or consideration of, imposing trade restrictions on goods originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.

In a joint statement, the countries said that actions by the Israeli government in the West Bank undermine the possibility of a two-state solution. They called on Israel to immediately halt settlement expansion and to ensure accountability for settler violence.

The statement stressed that the situation in the West Bank is rapidly deteriorating, with unprecedented levels of settler violence. The signatories said they intend to impose national restrictions or support European measures on goods from settlements, or are actively considering such steps and others in line with their national procedures.

The signatory countries are: Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.