UK, France and Canada sanction Israeli West Bank settlements, in support for two-state solution

**UK, France and Canada impose trade ban on goods from Israeli West Bank settlements**

*London, 8 September 2026* – Britain, France and Canada announced a coordinated trade ban on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The move, described by the United Kingdom as a step toward supporting a two‑state solution, marks the latest sanctions against Israel amid growing diplomatic isolation.

### The ban

On Tuesday, British Foreign Minister Ed Miliband told the House of Commons that the United Kingdom could no longer “call out” injustice and suffering without taking action. He said the ban would target goods “made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank” and that the UK’s position was that the occupation is unlawful and that there is “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians in the area.

The ban is part of a broader effort by the UK, France and Canada to join other European countries – including the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Norway – in restricting trade with the settlements. The UK said the impact on its £6 billion of annual bilateral trade with Israel would likely be minimal, although it has not yet clarified how it will distinguish between products made in settlements and those produced elsewhere in Israel.

### Israeli reaction

The announcement was met with strong condemnation from Israeli officials. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the expulsion of the British ambassador in Tel Aviv, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem, which is accredited to the Palestinian Authority. President Isaac Herzog accused Britain of interfering in Israel’s upcoming elections, scheduled for late October.

The focus of the sanctions is the E1 settlement project near Jerusalem, which would cut across land that Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Smotrich also announced plans for 1,000 new homes in two other West Bank settlements.

### International context

The United Nations, the Palestinian Authority and most countries consider Israeli settlements illegal under international law, a view Israel disputes. In 2025 the UK joined other nations in formally recognising a Palestinian state as part of its support for a two‑state solution. Earlier in June, the UK had sanctioned Israeli networks involved in financing and enabling violence in the West Bank.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticised the sanctions as “discrimination against the Jewish people” and warned that they could affect the UK’s ability to do business in U.S. states that prohibit companies that boycott Israel from receiving state contracts or public investment.

Goods originating from settlements are mainly agricultural, including fresh produce and wine, and represent only a small fraction of Israel’s total trade flows. The Israeli prime minister’s office and foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

### Summary

Britain

Article and image source: cyprus-mail.com