A coordinated push by 12 countries to restrict trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank drew support Tuesday from a U.N. expert and advocacy groups, who hailed the measures as a significant first step while urging governments to intensify economic pressure over Israel's settlement policies.
France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden announced plans to introduce national restrictions on trade in goods originating from Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law.
U.N. Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese welcomed Britain's decision, describing it as a "much-needed beginning."
Albanese said the shift did not yet reverse all policies she said were undermining Palestinian self-determination, while warning that the British government would likely face intense pressure over the move.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told lawmakers that London would ban imports of goods from illegal Israeli settlements, citing what he described as the "ethnic cleansing of Palestinians."
