Twelve Nations Restrict Trade with Israeli West Bank Settlements

Britain, France, and Canada announced trade restrictions on goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated the UK government would introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements and sanctions against individuals and businesses providing services like construction or financing for settlement expansion. Miliband also announced tougher new restrictions on arms exports to Israel, accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing and stating the rapid expansion of settlements was unlawful.

Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden joined the UK, France, and Canada in a joint statement. These twelve governments confirmed their intention to introduce national and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods with settlements, or are actively considering such measures. In response, Israel announced four retaliatory measures against the UK, including the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called Miliband's accusations outrageous lies and accused the UK of interfering in Israeli elections, which are scheduled for late October. President Isaac Herzog described the sanctions as a grave miscalculation, a gross interference in the democratic elections of a sovereign nation, and a decision that will fall on the wrong side of history.

Prior to the announcement, US President Donald Trump had suggested the US might not back Britain if Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, an intervention widely speculated to be linked to the UK's planned sanctions. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee accused the British government of "Jew hate" and warned that US states could sanction British companies.

However, when UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham briefed President Trump on Monday, the president reportedly did not push back, as the US had learned France and Canada would join Britain.