This photograph taken from the E1 corridor, an area in the occupied West Bank shows vehicles driving along the highway near the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, on Sept. 8, 2026 (Credit: Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)

London leads the push against Israeli settlements, but impact remains uncertain

The United Kingdom, France, and Canada are seeking to ban imports of goods produced in illegal settlements, while other European countries are considering similar measures or backing EU-wide action.

10 Sep 2026, 09:19 by Laure-Maïssa FARJALLAH · L'Orient Today

Britain has taken its toughest stance yet. On Sept. 8, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband denounced what he called “ethnic cleansing” by “terrorist settlers” in the occupied West Bank. In announcing new sanctions targeting settlement activity in the occupied territories, he accused the Israeli government of having far too often “turned a blind eye” to the violence, while some of its members had actively encouraged it.The shift extends well beyond Britain. France and Canada announced similar measures at the same time, in what appears to be a coordinated move. Nine other European countries — Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden — have either announced restrictions of their own or backed action at the European Union level. Missed this field report? Step by step, Israel quietly redraws the map of the...

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