EU reiterates Israeli settlements illegal under intl' law, calls them obstacle to 2-state solution

The European Union reiterated its longstanding position that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are illegal under international law, saying they constitute an obstacle to peace and the viability of a two-state solution.

"We take note of the announcement of eight member states – together with the UK, Canada, Iceland and Norway – to impose national restrictions on trade with illegal settlements," Anouar El Anouni, the EU Commission spokesman for foreign affairs, told Anadolu.

"The EU's longstanding position is clear: settlements are illegal under international law. They constitute an obstacle to peace and to the viability of the two-state solution," he added.

The bloc considers Israeli settlements established in the occupied Palestinian territory after June 1967 to be illegal, he said.

"Goods originating from Israeli settlements in territories that came under Israeli administration since June 1967 are not entitled to benefit from any preferential tariff treatment," El Anouni noted.

His remarks came after 11 European countries — France, the UK, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden — as well as Canada announced their intention to impose national restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements.

The countries also said they would support European restrictions on such trade.

In a joint declaration, the countries said the situation in the occupied West Bank is "rapidly deteriorating," citing unprecedented levels of occupiers' violence and continued settlement expansion.

"We firmly oppose any action resulting in the annexation of Palestinian land and the forced displacement of Palestinian populations," they said.

The countries called on Israel to immediately halt the expansion of settlements and civilian administrative powers in the occupied West Bank.

They also urged accountability for occupiers responsible for violence and called for investigations into allegations involving Israeli forces.

Growing calls to EU

There are growing calls in Europe for the EU to go beyond measures targeting settlement goods and take broader action in its trade relations with Israel.

Several European governments, lawmakers, and civil society groups have called on the EU to suspend or restrict trade arrangements with Israel, arguing that the bloc should use its economic relationship with Israel as leverage to address settlement expansion and the treatment of Palestinians.

The calls have also focused on the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides the framework for bilateral trade relations and grants preferential treatment to certain goods.

Supporters of stronger measures have argued that the agreement should be reviewed or suspended in response to Israel's policies in the occupied Palestinian territory and the wider conflict.

However, EU-wide trade measures require agreement among member states, and divisions between EU countries have so far complicated efforts to adopt a common position.

While the EU has not yet imposed a general import ban on products originating from illegal Israeli settlements, it excludes such products from trade preferences under the EU-Israel Association Agreement and continues to assess options for broader trade measures.