UK Bans Trade With West Bank Settlements, Nine Nations Follow

The United Kingdom has announced a ban on trade with the West Bank and measures against companies providing services to settlements there. British Foreign Secretary announced a shift in the UK government's official stance towards Israel, imposing economic restrictions on the West Bank. He stated that the British government now officially determines that "the Israeli occupation is illegal."

The minister explained that while Britain had long defined settlements as illegal, it had refrained from a similar determination regarding the "occupation" as a whole. Now, he said, the British government has decided to change its official position on the matter. Concurrently, he announced economic measures against settlements, primarily a trade ban. "The government believes that the illegality of settlements should be reflected in economic relations with settlements," he said. He added, "I am announcing today that we will announce a ban on trade with settlements in the occupied territories."

In addition to trade restrictions, the UK will also take action against companies providing services to settlements. This British declaration was joined by a number of other countries that announced they would also impose restrictions on trade with settlements. These countries include France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden.