Daniel Wolfram
Human rights experts sees this as a change in position on Israel’s occupation of the West Bank by some of the most powerful countries in Europe and North America.
A group of 12 nations, including Canada and 11 European countries, just hit Israeli settlements with new trade limits.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband led the charge, announcing a direct ban on goods from illegal West Bank outposts.
France and Canada quickly joined. Other European allies such as Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden also promised further action.
Sanctioning Israel
Miliband told the UK Parliament that the country could no longer stay quiet. “Today we refuse to be bystanders to further suffering and to the destruction of the two-state solution,” Miliband said. He added that the UK views the Israeli occupation in the West Bank as illegal.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot shared the same sentiment on social media. “France is going to put an end to its commerce with Israeli settlements in Palestine, along with 11 other countries which have also undertaken similar engagements.”
“Why are we doing this?” Barrot asked before answering, “Because the West Bank is close to exploding.”
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The situation in the West Bank is getting worse
There was also a joint statement by the 12 countries that announced the ban while calling for a two-state solution.
The statement demands Israel immediately stop settlement expansion, hold violent settlers accountable, and investigate allegations against Israeli forces.
French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agree in the statement that the sanctions are necessary to prevent further deterioration.
Israel retaliates
Israel reacted swiftly with a fiery statement. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the British claims “outrageous lies” and took drastic diplomatic measures.
Israel is shutting down Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem. “Unfortunately, a hostile Labour Government is in office, systematically acting against the State of Israel, and it has left us with no choice but to finally respond to its hostile actions,” Saar said.
United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, an independent expert on human rights, told Al Jazeera that the joint statement marks a “seismic shift” in policy. “This is huge,” Albanese added.
