Foreign ministers from eight prominent Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Turkiye, collectively welcomed the United Kingdom's recent decision to prohibit imports of goods and limit services from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Their joint statement, issued Wednesday, September 9, followed the UK's announcement a day prior.
The ministers expressed hope that London's measures would inspire other global powers to implement similar restrictions, aligning with established international law. They further urged accountability for organizations and individuals implicated in illegal settlement activities. This collective stance underscored their commitment to international legal frameworks and relevant UN resolutions, notably UN Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016) and the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion of July 19, 2024.
On Tuesday, September 8, the UK announced its ban would encompass all goods originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed the restrictions would also extend to selected services, including financing, construction, infrastructure, real estate, and advertising, directly connected to these settlements. Miliband justified the action by citing escalating settler violence against Palestinians, which he described as 'ethnic cleansing.'
Beyond the trade curbs, the eight nations lauded a separate joint statement on the two-state solution, previously issued by Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. These countries had indicated their intent to introduce national measures or support European restrictions on settlement trade, with some actively exploring additional steps.
The eight foreign ministers reiterated their call for Israel to reverse all actions linked to settlement expansion and other efforts designed to alter the geographic and demographic character of the occupied Palestinian territory. They emphasized that Gaza remains an integral part of this territory, advocating for the full and immediate implementation of US President Donald Trump's Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict. They believe this plan could ensure security, address humanitarian needs, facilitate reconstruction, and establish foundations for lasting peace. The ministers affirmed that a two-state solution, featuring an independent, sovereign, contiguous, and viable Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital, represents the sole viable path to a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace, consistent with international law and UN resolutions.
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📰 Source: Siasat Gulf