Yossi Schwartz ISL(RCIT section in Israel/Occupied Palestine) 08.09.2027
Eleven countries announced on Tuesday that they intend to ban the import of products originating in settlements. The countries that participated in the declaration are Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The country’s statement said t that he decision was made due to “an unprecedented level of settler violence and the expansion of construction.” They join Spain, which has already announced these sanctions in the past.
The joint statement of the two countries stated that “the actions of the Israeli government in the West Bank harm the possibility of realizing the two-state solution. The situation is deteriorating rapidly, against the background of unprecedented levels of settler violence and the expansion of settlements, including the decision to publish tenders in Area E1.”[i]
The declaration also stated that “the two-state solution must be defended, and we will work for a just and lasting peace. We strongly oppose measures that amount to the annexation of Palestinian land and the forcible expulsion of the Palestinian population. The Government of Israel must immediately halt settlement expansion and the expansion of civil-administrative powers, hold Israeli settlers accountable and investigate allegations against Israeli forces.”[ii]
Immediately after this empty declaration as it is easy to stick stickers “made in Israel” as the Zionist state made with products from South Africa, the 11 countries declare.
“We recognize Israel’s legitimate security interests and reiterate our condemnation of the October 7 Hamas terror attack, which was the worst antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust,” the statement added. “We are determined to combat antisemitism wherever it occurs. We are unequivocally committed to the two-state solution, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which will enable Israel and a sovereign, democratic and sustainable Palestinian state to live side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition, within secure and internationally recognized borders.”[iii]
Miliband emphasized the British government’s commitment to the two-state solution, noting that “the belief in the freedom of Israelis and Palestinians leads me and many others to feel deep shame about what is happening in Palestine.” He said, “Our debate is not with the State of Israel, but with the conduct of its government.”
He described what is happening in the West Bank as ethnic cleansing. “The British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the West Bank by Jewish terror operatives,” Miliband said, “and all too often, the Israeli government turned a blind eye, and worse: its members have declared and taken steps to support the displacement of the Palestinians.” As a result, he announced comprehensive sanctions on the settlements. “We will expand the sanctions regime so that we can impose sanctions on those who provide services such as infrastructure, financing or real estate for the expansion of the settlements.” This is against the backdrop of the construction tender in the E1 area. “We will not accept the destruction of the two-state solution,” he said
Miliband added that Britain would refuse any arms exports that contribute to the occupation of the West Bank. He also mentioned the victims of the war in Gaza. “Israel has the right to defend itself but that doesn’t justify what happened in Gaza: more than 70,000 people have been killed, at least 20,000 of them children. Madam Speaker, 20,000 children,” Miliband said. In conclusion, he said the Israeli government would be judged by its actions. “We want to see a new approach in both Gaza and the West Bank,” he said, “Just as we want to see Israelis and Palestinians live side by side, we need to meet those standards in Britain as well – Jews and Muslims need to live side by side in peace.”
The declaration in support of the apartheid state, for which most of the Palestinian people were expelled while carrying out some 40 massacres and genocide in 1948 and in Gaza over the past three years, was given after the publication of the tender for the construction of 1,200 housing units in Area E1. And on Tuesday, the Jerusalem District Court rejected the petition for an interim injunction to halt the tender, so that construction can proceed without legal hindrance in Israel. The request was submitted by the organizations Ir Amim, Bimkom and Peace Now.
A senior Israeli source said last week that Israel would respond harshly to the imposition of British sanctions. “We have made it clear that any country that acts in this way will have implications for us,”
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, referred to Britain’s intention to impose sanctions on goods and services from the settlements in the West Bank. He said that this decision was not in the spirit of accusing the British government and Foreign Minister Ed Miliband of “hatred of Jews.”
President Isaac Herzog, said
“We are expected to see headlines announcing certain British commercial sanctions on Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria,” President Herzog said. “If that happens, and other countries may join, I believe it will turn out to be a serious mistake in judgment and choosing the wrong side of history.” Herzog added: “In the current context, it would be blatant interference in the democratic elections of a sovereign state (…) I say to all foreign governments: Stop! Stay away from the impasse of sanctions and boycotts and turn towards constructive dialogue and cooperation.”[iv]
The propaganda of European imperialism is doing support for Israel, which has been doing as it pleases with the Palestinians throughout its existence, knowing that no real step will be taken against it and that the solution will come only with the elimination of the apartheid state from the sea to the river and the establishment of a democratic and socialist Palestinian state from the river to the sea, to which the Palestinian refugees will return, and the Israeli minority will have civil rights.
Endnotes:
[i] https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/2026-09-08/ty-article/.premium/000001a0-807f-d148-afbd-f27f5ab80000
[ii] Ibid
[iii] Ibid
[iv] Ibid