Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Tuesday that France would end trade with Israeli settlements located in the occupied Palestinian territories. Paris is acting alongside eleven other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden, which have taken or are considering similar measures.
The foreign minister justified this decision by citing the rapidly deteriorating situation in the West Bank . He denounced the "unbridled expansion" of settlements, the violence perpetrated by extremist settlers against Palestinians, and a situation which, according to him, directly threatens the two-state solution. The joint statement from the twelve countries also addressed the proposed E1 settlement and called on the Israeli government to halt settlement expansion.
A measure targeted at settlements, not at Israel
Jean-Noël Barrot, however, emphasized that France remains committed to Israel's security. In his message, he reiterated the condemnation of the terrorist attack of October 7, 2023, and asserted that no lasting peace is possible without security guarantees for Israel. The French measure therefore targets goods originating from Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law, and not all trade with Israel.
The precise scope of the French restrictions remains to be clarified. The joint declaration indicates that some states will impose national restrictions, while others will support measures at the European level or will still have to adopt them according to their own procedures. The United Kingdom has already announced a ban on imports of products from its former colonies and sanctions against certain companies or individuals involved in their expansion.
This new initiative marks a further hardening of France's position on settlement activity in the West Bank. In June, Paris , along with several partners, had already imposed sanctions targeting individuals and entities involved in violence and settlement expansion. France now wants the European Union to adopt similar trade restrictions.
