Western Countries Take Major Step Against Israeli Settlements in West Bank

Canada, France, Britain and more than a dozen other Western countries have decided to impose a complete ban on all imports originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

In a joint statement, the countries strongly condemned the continued expansion of Israeli settlements and rising violence in the West Bank. They said the ongoing settlement expansion amounts to the seizure of Palestinian land and the forced displacement of Palestinians.

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand joined European countries in reaffirming Canada’s commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticized the decision, calling it unjustified and discriminatory toward the Israeli government and Jewish people. He warned that Britain and other countries could face retaliatory measures from the United States and Israel in response to the move.