Anwar welcomes Western push to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed welcome for the joint declaration signed on September 8 by 12 Western nations addressing measures against illicit Israeli settlements. He emphasized that these actions are a long overdue change in the stance of certain Western governments and now require robust execution.

In a Facebook post, Anwar urged these governments to leverage their diplomatic and economic influence over Israel to advocate for cessation of settlement growth and forced displacement, accountability for Gaza’s destruction, and unobstructed humanitarian assistance. Anwar specifically noted that Britain, Canada, and France would initiate trade bans for settlement goods, joining several European nations that have already done so.

He acknowledged the importance of British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband’s statement in the House of Commons, which formally recognized the illegality of the Israeli occupation and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in West Bank areas allegedly perpetrated by "settler terrorists". Anwar urged the international community to transition from declarations to decisive, binding actions that respect international law, uphold Palestinian rights, and foster a fair and enduring peace in the Middle East.

The United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK have affirmed their plans to introduce national or supportive European limitations on trade with illegal settlement goods, or they are actively contemplating such measures, compliant with their respective national procedures.