12 countries announce trade restrictions on Israeli settlements in West Bank
Twelve countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Canada, announced plans to impose trade restrictions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank amid what they described as unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion.
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden also joined the initiative, according to a joint statement by the countries' foreign ministers.
"The Government of Israel's actions in the West Bank are undermining the possibility of a two-State solution," the ministers said.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband separately announced a ban on imports of goods from Israeli settlements, accusing "settler terrorists" of carrying out "ethnic cleansing" in parts of the West Bank and saying the Israeli government had often turned a blind eye to their actions.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar responded by ordering the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem, calling Miliband's accusations "outrageous lies." Israel also said it would deny entry to 12 British nationals.
The measures follow Israel's decision to open tenders for around 1,200 housing units in the E1 settlement area of the West Bank. The 12 foreign ministers called the move "unacceptable."
The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since 1967. Israeli settlements there are considered illegal under international law.