Twelve countries, led by Britain, announced today (Tuesday) the imposition of exceptional sanctions on trade in settlements in Judea and Samaria.
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At the center of the dispute is construction in the E1 area, which Western countries claim undermines the territorial continuity of a future Palestinian state and makes it difficult to realize a 'two-state solution.'.
The measures announced by the British Foreign Secretary:
• A new sanctions regime on companies and individuals that provide services for settlement expansion, including construction, infrastructure, financing, and real estate.
• Prohibiting the import of goods from what it defined as "illegal settlements in the occupied territories.".
• Restrictions on arms exports and other exports: Britain will refuse applications for export licenses that it says contribute materially to the "occupation.".
• Timeline: The legislation is expected to come into effect within six to nine months.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced in a speech to Parliament: "I am now announcing that we will ban the purchase of goods from illegal settlements in the West Bank. The British government's position is that the occupation is illegal - and we believe that our attitude to the occupation should be reflected in policy.".
The British Foreign Secretary added in his speech: "There is an attempt here to harm an ethnic minority by another ethnic group - this is ethnic cleansing, and the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this reality, and has even made statements supporting these settlers who have acted against Palestinians.
""Our debate is not with Israel, but with its government. This important distinction needs to be made." He added: "The goal of the E1 project is to make the establishment of a Palestinian state unfeasible.".
At the beginning of his speech in Parliament, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband referred to his personal connection to Israel and emphasized its right to exist. "To anyone who doubts Israel's right to exist - you are wrong," he said.
He later added: "I am proud of my Judaism and my unwavering support for Israel," and clarified that, in his words, there is no contradiction between support for Israel and support for a Palestinian state.
Miliband stressed that Britain and Israel will continue to cooperate on issues concerning shared national security interests.
At the same time, the foreign ministers of 12 countries issued a joint statement in which they announced their intention to impose, support, or examine restrictions on trade with the settlements.
The joint statement was joined by Iceland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Finland, France, Canada and Sweden.
All of them pledged to take steps to limit trade with the settlements.
The countries have made it clear that in accordance with their national procedures they intend to impose national restrictions, support European restrictions, or actively examine various measures with respect to trade in products from those regions.
In the statement, the countries claimed that the Israeli government's actions in Judea and Samaria undermine the possibility of realizing a two-state solution. They pointed to the expansion of settlement activity and the decision to publish tenders for the E1 project, which they defined as "unacceptable," and also alleged "unprecedented levels of settler violence.".
The foreign ministers called on the Israeli government to immediately halt settlement expansion and the expansion of administrative powers in Judea and Samaria. They also demanded accountability for Jewish violence and an investigation into allegations against Israeli security forces.
The countries declared their opposition to measures that, they said, amounted to the annexation of Palestinian lands and the forcible displacement of the Palestinian population. They stressed their commitment to the two-state solution and to what they defined as a "just and sustainable peace.".
Alongside the criticism of Israel, the statement stated that the countries recognize its legitimate security interests.
The foreign ministers reiterated their condemnation of the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, which they defined as "the worst anti-Semitic massacre since the Holocaust" - and declared a commitment to the fight against anti-Semitism.
Head of the Binyamin Council and Chairman of the Yesha Council Yisrael Gantz: "Britain's decision to boycott products from Judea and Samaria and impose sanctions on Jews just because they live and work in their homeland is a shameful anti-Semitic step.
""It's time for Britain to wake up: the British Mandate ended almost 80 years ago. The days when London determined where Jews could live in the Land of Israel are over and will not return.".
""Instead of addressing the difficult problems at home, the British government is recruiting a coalition of pro-Palestinian countries for an economic war on the Jews in Benjamin, Judea and Samaria. This is a moral disgrace.".
""The Palestinian Authority, which is behind the promotion of the boycott, must pay the bill. Any damage caused to the State of Israel and its citizens as a result of the boycott should be forfeited from the Authority's funds.".
""Our message to Britain and to everyone who joins the boycott is clear: You will not succeed in removing the Jews from Judea and Samaria. We will respond to any attempt to harm the settlements with more construction, more settlements, and Israeli sovereignty.""
The Regavim movement responded: "The British government's statement is not only a blatant violation of Israeli sovereignty, but also continues a century-old hostile anti-Semitic policy. Britain, which closed the country's gates to war refugees in September 1939 and sent Jews to their deaths, continues directly in September 2026 in a desperate attempt to establish a Palestinian terrorist state that will pose a real existential threat to the lives of Jews in their own country.".
""There are illegal actions in Judea and Samaria, but they are by the British government itself, which is funding the construction of illegal structures in violation of international agreements, and the hundreds of millions that Britain invests in the corrupt Palestinian terrorist authority are channeled to education and incitement to murder and terrorism. The Israeli government must immediately stop any foreign and predatory intervention in the homeland.".
