Egypt and Jordan Welcome UK Ban on Goods from Illegal Israeli Settlements
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Egypt and Jordan have expressed their support for the United Kingdom’s new policy banning trade in goods and services connected to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. This stance was reported by Mehr News Agency, citing the Palestinian Sama News Agency.
Both nations characterized London’s move as a vital measure consistent with international resolutions aimed at curbing settlement expansion and preventing the collapse of the two-state solution. This endorsement highlights a shared concern among regional players regarding the ongoing proliferation of Israeli settlements.
The joint statement from Egypt and Jordan follows an earlier declaration by the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. These nations had jointly described the expansion of Israeli settlements and the escalating violence by Israeli settlers as a direct and immediate threat to regional stability.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Marc Carney emphasized in their joint statement that their countries would take action to ban imports of settlement-produced goods and impose targeted restrictions on those facilitating or benefiting from such activities. They reaffirmed the illegality of West Bank settlements under international law.
The leaders of these three nations identified settlement plans, such as ‘E-1,’ and the increased violence by settlers as significant threats to the prospects for peace in the region. The statement read, “After recognizing the State of Palestine last year, the time has now come to take further practical steps to protect the two-state solution and our values.”
The UK, France, and Canada view the achievement of a two-state solution as essential for the security of West Asia and beyond. They described this coordinated decision as a turning point in their approach to safeguarding regional stability. Further, it was announced that these three countries will convene a joint meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly later this month to follow up on these actions.
