France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden announced Tuesday they are joining Britain’s push to impose restrictions on trade in goods produced in Israeli communities.
In a joint statement, the countries said they intend to implement national restrictions, support similar measures at the European Union level, or examine additional steps—depending on internal procedures in each country. Iceland and Spain, which has already advanced measures on the issue, also joined the statement. The official announcement praised Britain, France, and Canada for steps already taken by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium.
1+The countries claimed that construction, particularly the announcement of tenders for the E1 project, undermines the possibility of establishing a ‘Palestinian’ state. They demanded Israel’s government halt building Jewish communities and what they called “settler violence,” and accused it of advancing measures resembling territorial annexation.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband quoted former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who said about events in Judea and Samaria: “This is a violent and criminal attempt to claim ownership of territories in Judea and Samaria.”
1+Miliband tried to separate the measures against Israel’s government from attitudes toward its citizens. “Our argument is not against the people of Israel, but against the conduct of its government,” he said. In the joint statement, the countries also condemned the October 7 massacre and emphasized they recognize Israel’s legitimate security interests.