Photo courtesy of Anadolu
A group of Western governments is preparing new economic restrictions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, drawing support from the United Nations as international pressure grows over settlement expansion and violence in the territory.
Canada and 11 European countries announced Tuesday that they would pursue national restrictions on settlement-linked trade, support broader European measures, or take both approaches. The European countries are France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden.
The UN human rights office welcomed the initiative, saying governments have a responsibility to examine whether their commercial relationships contribute to maintaining Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian territory.
UN human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence said the worsening conditions in the West Bank require concrete action. High Commissioner Volker Türk has similarly called on governments and businesses to ensure their activities do not support settlement expansion.
The initiative draws on a July 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, which found Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory unlawful. The court said other states must neither recognize that situation as legal nor provide aid or assistance in maintaining it.
International pressure increased two months later when the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on states to take measures concerning trade and investment that contribute to sustaining Israel’s unlawful presence in the territory.
The 12 governments pointed to accelerating settlement activity and settler violence in explaining their planned measures. They also opposed annexation of Palestinian territory and the forced displacement of Palestinians.
Their declaration called for an immediate halt to settlement expansion and stronger accountability for violent settlers, while also seeking investigations into allegations involving Israeli forces.
The move potentially shifts international opposition to settlements beyond diplomatic statements toward economic consequences. Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are regarded as illegal under international law by the UN and most governments, while Israel disputes key legal findings concerning the territory and has rejected the ICJ’s 2024 advisory opinion.