UK, France, Canada to ban imports from Israeli settlements

Britain, France, and Canada have announced plans to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, accusing Israel of perpetrating "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians in the region. UK Foreign Minister Ed Miliband stated that the British government agrees with these claims, alleging that the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to these atrocities.

Within hours of the announcement, Israel retaliated by closing Britain's consulate in Jerusalem and banning several British citizens from visiting the country. The trade curbs come in response to increasing attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The three Western allies join nine other European countries in issuing a joint statement to introduce or support restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements.

Israel has threatened to expel British diplomats and bar British training for Palestinian Authority forces. The settlements primarily export agricultural products, such as dates, grapes, and citrus fruits, as well as wine, Dead Sea cosmetics, and industrial products. The trade between the UK and the occupied Palestinian Territories was valued at around £38 million ($51 million) in 2025.

Ireland and Spain have already taken measures against trade with Israeli settlements, and France has been pushing for a similar decision from the European Union, though some members have blocked this progress. The E1 settlement plan, approved by Israel last year, would see 1,200 housing units built, further isolating Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.

The UK government's move and the new hardline stance under Prime Minister Andy Burnham signal a growing divergence between the UK and the US on the issue of settlements.