France and Canada join UK in announcing sanctions on Israeli settlements
France and Canada have followed the United Kingdom in announcing a ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Miliband said that France and Canada would impose a ban on the trade of goods and some services from Israeli settlements, after the three nations joined a group of 11 countries to condemn the Israeli government's actions in the occupied West Bank.
Miliband said the UK would take action against specific companies and individuals who provide services such as construction, infrastructure, financing, or real estate for settlement expansion.
The UK will "act in concert with others in a broad international coalition," he said.
Miliband also told the Commons that the UK had recognised the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, declared the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and announced both comprehensive sanctions on Israeli settlements and a ban on all arms licences and other exports that "materially contribute to the occupation."
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
France's Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the move in a social media post, saying: "France will end trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territories, along with 11 other countries that have made similar commitments."
"France cannot, through its trade, support a situation that threatens the security of both Israelis and Palestinians."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has been criticised by much of the international community for accelerating the construction of settlements in the West Bank and not doing enough to stop violent attacks by Israelis on Palestinians there.
Earlier this year Israel opened up tenders for the construction of some 1,200 settlement homes in a strategically important part of the occupied West Bank.
The proposed Israeli E1 project is designed to connect Jerusalem to Ma'ale Adumim and other settlements east of the city, carving into land on which Palestinians seek to establish their state.
Last month, MEE was first to report that the UK planned to ban settlement goods, and that Miliband was pushing for a raft of strong measures against Israel and had consulted a range of civil society organisations.
MEE understands that Prime Minister Andy Burnham only briefed President Donald Trump on his plans on Monday afternoon, despite the United States privately urging the British government not to go ahead with the measures.
Burnham has also not spoken to his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, since he became prime minister in July.
Whitehall sources have told MEE that the measures announced on Tuesday should be understood as the start of a new approach to foreign policy, and are expected to be followed by further measures.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
