Concrete measures are needed to end violence and the occupation of the West Bank, Türk says.

On Tuesday, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk welcomed the announcement of trade restrictions by 12 countries on goods originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

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“The high commissioner reiterates his call on states to adopt meaningful measures aimed at ending the violence and occupation of the West Bank, and measures such as those announced today contribute to that objective,” he stated.

The UN High Commissioner also urged all states to consider measures to ensure they are not contributing to entrenching Israel’s illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Türk also stressed that the gravity of the situation in the West Bank requires urgent and concrete measures, and recalled that the International Court of Justice and the UN General Assembly already recommended in 2024 ending the import of any product originating from Israel’s illegal settlements.

Twelve Countries Reject Israeli Settlement Expansion and Violence

On Tuesday, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden said the expansion of settlements and settler violence are jeopardizing the possibility of achieving a two-state solution.

France, the United Kingdom and Canada also said they would propose national measures to ban trade in goods originating from the settlements, and recognized initiatives previously adopted by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium in this area.

Published by the British government, the Sept. 8 joint statement says the following:

“The Government of Israel’s actions in the West Bank are undermining the possibility of a two-State solution. The situation is rapidly deteriorating amid unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion, including the unacceptable decision to publish tenders for the E1 settlement project. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the President of France Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney have agreed on the need to take action to prevent further damage.

Today, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK confirm their intention to introduce national and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods with settlements which are illegal under international law, or that they are actively considering these and other measures, in accordance with their national procedures. In this regard, the UK, France and Canada welcome the important action already taken by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium and will bring forward national measures to ban trade in settlement goods.

Together, we are resolute: the two-state solution must be protected, and we will take action in pursuit of a just and lasting peace, based on the principles enshrined in the New York Declaration adopted one year ago. We firmly oppose actions tantamount to the annexation of Palestinian land and forcible displacement of the Palestinian population.

The Government of Israel must immediately halt the expansion of settlements and civilian administrative powers, ensure accountability for settler violence, and investigate allegations against Israeli forces.

We recognize Israel’s legitimate security interests and reiterate our condemnation of the Hamas 7 October terrorist attack, the worst antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust. We are clear in our determination to tackle antisemitism wherever it occurs. We are unequivocally committed to the two-state solution, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, that enables Israel and a sovereign, democratic and viable Palestinian state to live side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition within secure and internationally recognised borders.”

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – UK Gov

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