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France Moves to Ban Israeli Settlement Products in West Bank
France says it plans to stop trade in products made by Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The French foreign minister said the decision was prompted by expanding settlements and increased violence against Palestinians.
France also said the West Bank is at risk of becoming more unstable.
Britain and Canada are involved in a related effort.
The French government says this is not a boycott of Israel.
The exact rules for the ban have not been decided yet.
Several European countries wanted the European Union to act together, but they could not reach the required agreement.
Israeli officials have reacted angrily to similar British measures.
France will begin a process to ban products made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot cited settlement expansion and rising violence by extremist settlers.
The ban’s details and implementation date have not yet been finalized.
Britain announced a similar trade ban in coordination with France and Canada.
France says the measure targets settlement commerce, not Israel as a whole, while EU-wide action has been blocked by opposition including Germany’s.
- Who
- The French government, led on this issue by Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, alongside Britain, Canada and other supporting countries.
- What
- France will launch a process to ban products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
- Where
- The measure concerns commerce connected to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
- When
- The announcement was made on Tuesday, September 8; the implementation date remains unclear.
- Why
- France cited settlement expansion, increased settler violence against Palestinians and concerns that these developments threaten a viable Palestinian state and regional stability.
France and Supporting Governments
Israeli Officials and Opponents
Reason for the trade measure
France and Supporting Governments
France says settlement expansion and intensified violence by extremist settlers are destabilizing the West Bank and undermining the prospect of a two-state solution.
Israeli Officials and Opponents
Israeli opposition was reflected in angry reaction to Britain’s related decision, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s call for the British ambassador to be expelled.
Scope of the action
France and Supporting Governments
France says it is ending commerce with Israeli settlements, not boycotting Israel as a whole.
Israeli Officials and Opponents
The reported Israeli reaction treats the related British trade ban as serious enough to warrant a diplomatic response.
National versus EU action
France and Supporting Governments
France says it cannot wait for an EU-wide decision because the situation on the ground requires national action.
Israeli Officials and Opponents
Some EU states sought collective action, but the bloc could not obtain the required majority, with Germany notably opposed.
Key facts
- Announcing official
- Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s foreign minister
- Products affected
- Products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank
- Implementation
- The ban’s modalities have not been finalized
- Related countries
- Britain announced a similar ban in coordination with France and Canada
- Wider support
- France said as many as a dozen countries could follow
- EU position
- EU-wide action failed to secure a qualified majority, with notable opposition from Germany
- French characterization
- The measure is not intended as a boycott of Israel
Quotes
Jean-Noël Barrot
France’s foreign minister
“Why are we doing this? Because the West Bank is close to exploding – there is frenzied expansion of the settlements, a flare up of violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers, and acts of terror which have been attacked by Israeli authorities themselves.”
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“France is going to put an end to its commerce with Israeli settlements in Palestine, along with 11 other countries which have also undertaken similar engagements.”
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A French diplomatic source
French government source briefing reporters
“Given the situation on the ground we can’t wait, so we are taking this national decision.”
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Sources
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Israeli Court Clears Key West Bank Settlement Project to Proceed
