Anwar welcomes Western push to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements

KUALA LUMPUR, September 12 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed appreciation for the joint declaration made by the foreign ministers of 12 Western nations on September 8, regarding actions against illicit Israeli settlements. He emphasized that this marked a long overdue change in the approach of several Western governments, and now requires the commitment of their effective implementation.

In a Facebook post, Anwar stated that these governments should employ their significant diplomatic and economic influence over Israel to advocate for an end to settlement expansion and forced displacement, as well as accountability for the harm caused to Gaza and unhindered humanitarian access. He highlighted the specific actions of Britain, Canada, and France in advancing measures to prohibit trade in goods originating from settlements, joining other European nations that have already taken such steps.

Anwar acknowledged the significance of British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's statement in the House of Commons, where the United Kingdom formally recognized the illegality of the Israeli occupation as a whole and acknowledged the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in certain areas of the West Bank, termed "settler terrorists" by Miliband.

Anwar urged the international community to transition from mere declarations to concrete and binding actions that respect international law, shield the rights of the Palestinian people, and bring about a just and enduring peace in the Middle East. Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom announced their intent to introduce national or support European restrictions on trade in goods with these settlements, which are deemed illegal under international law, or that they are contemplating such measures, in accordance with their respective national procedures.