LONDON (UNITED KINGDOM) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – “Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom confirm their intention to introduce national restrictions and/or support European ones on trade in goods originating from settlements (Israeli settlements in the West Bank), which are illegal under international law, or are actively considering such and other measures, in accordance with their respective national procedures. In this regard, the United Kingdom, France and Canada welcome the important measures already adopted by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium and will take national measures to ban trade in goods originating from settlements.” This is stated in a note from the British Foreign Office.
For the aforementioned countries, “the actions of the Israeli government in the West Bank are undermining the possibility of a two-state solution. The situation is rapidly deteriorating due to unprecedented levels of settler violence and the expansion of settlements, including the unacceptable decision to publish tenders for the E1 settlement project.” Therefore, “British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed on the need to take action to prevent further damage.”
The joint statement explains that “the two-state solution must be protected, and we will act to pursue a just and lasting peace, based on the principles enshrined in the New York Declaration adopted one year ago. We strongly oppose actions amounting to the annexation of Palestinian land and the forced displacement of the Palestinian population.”
“The Government of Israel must immediately halt the expansion of settlements and civilian administrative powers, ensure accountability for settler violence, and investigate allegations against Israeli forces,” the statement continues.
Finally, the aforementioned countries recognize “Israel’s legitimate security interests and reiterate our condemnation of Hamas’s terrorist attack on October 7, the worst antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust. We are firmly determined to combat antisemitism wherever it manifests itself. We are unequivocally committed to the two-state solution, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, which would enable Israel and a sovereign, democratic and viable Palestinian state to live side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition within secure and internationally recognized borders.”
– Photo: Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS)
