Denmark announces it is open to imposing restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Denmark has confirmed its intention to impose national restrictions and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law, in a position shared with 11 other countries. Copenhagen, however, has not announced a specific Danish trade embargo on these products, unlike Britain, France, and Canada, which have announced they will introduce national measures to ban trade in settlement products, according to local sources.
The position announced by Denmark today opens the way for Danish or European measures against trade linked to Israeli settlements, without meaning that a Danish ban has actually taken effect.
The Danish position thus joins a growing international movement to pressure Israel over settlement expansion in the West Bank, while keeping the nature of the measures that Copenhagen will take later linked to the national and European measures that it will decide upon.
Denmark is among 12 countries taking action against settlements.
The foreign ministries of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on protecting the two-state solution.
The 12 countries confirmed that they intend to introduce national restrictions and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods originating from settlements deemed illegal under international law, or that they are actively considering these and other measures, in accordance with the national procedures in place in each country, according to British sources.
Britain, France and Canada announce national measures
In the same context, Britain, France and Canada announced that they would take national measures to ban trade in settlement products, while the three countries welcomed the measures already taken by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium.
This means that the statement places Denmark among the countries that have confirmed their intention to act against trade linked to settlements, but it does not say that Copenhagen has actually imposed a trade embargo similar to the one announced by Britain, France and Canada.
London describes the settlements as illegal
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced to the House of Commons that the official position of the British government is that Israeli settlements are illegal.
Miliband said the British government believes, based on the United Nations definition, that there is «ethnic cleansing» taking place in the West Bank, and linked British actions to the need to prevent further damage to the viability of a two-state solution, according to Reuters.
The British Foreign Secretary said: "I am announcing today that the official position of the British government is that the settlements are illegal.".
Settlement expansion sparks international action
The joint statement came amid what the 12 countries described as a rapidly deteriorating situation in the West Bank, amid unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion.
The countries specifically pointed to the decision to publish tenders for the E1 settlement project, considering that this development threatens the possibility of preserving the two-state solution.
The countries stressed that they want to take measures to prevent further damage to the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Denmark reaffirms its position on the two-state solution
The signatory states linked their actions to adherence to the two-state solution, affirming their commitment to working towards a just and lasting peace. They also declared their strong opposition to any measures that amount to the annexation of Palestinian territory or lead to the forced displacement of the Palestinian population.
The Israeli government was urged to halt the expansion of settlements and civil administrative powers in the West Bank, ensure accountability for settler violence, and investigate allegations against Israeli forces.
The statement also affirms Israel's security interests.
At the same time, the statement affirmed the signatory states’ recognition of Israel’s legitimate security interests, renewed their condemnation of Hamas’s attack on October 7, and stressed their determination to combat anti-Semitism wherever it appears.
The countries affirmed their commitment to the two-state solution in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, enabling Israel and a sovereign, democratic and viable Palestinian state to live side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition within secure and internationally recognized borders.
Ben Ghafir responds: Argentine lands under British occupation
Prior to the anticipated British announcement, the move sparked anger in Israel, with Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sending a message to Britain via the X platform.
Ben-Gvir said it was time for Israel to publicly acknowledge that the Falkland Islands were Argentine territory «under occupation,» adding that the British had seized them by force from the Argentine people.
Ben-Gvir's statement came in reference to Argentina's renewed claim to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which have been under British administration since 1833, according to TV2.
Britain hardens its stance on settlements
The British move comes amid a growing hardening of London’s stance towards Israeli settlement policy in the West Bank.
The British measures target trade in goods produced in the settlements, while France and Canada have also announced similar national measures, while Denmark and other signatory countries have confirmed their intention to impose national restrictions and/or support European restrictions or continue to study these options.
