Last Updated on September 8, 2026 by YeJahan
YEJAHAN DESK
LONDON (Sept 8): A coalition of 12 nations, including the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, issued a sweeping joint statement on Tuesday warning that Israeli actions in the West Bank are actively undermining the viability of a future two-state solution. The statement came on the heels of the UK’s announcement of sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said, “the British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank, perpetrated by settler terrorists. In a retaliatory move, Israel announced the closure of the British Consulate in East Al-Quds.
The foreign ministers of eleven states cited a rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground, pointing to unprecedented spikes in settler violence and ongoing settlement expansion. The group specifically condemned a recent decision to publish tenders for the controversial E1 settlement project.
“The situation is rapidly deteriorating amid unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion, including the unacceptable decision to publish tenders for the E1 settlement project. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the President of France Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney have agreed on the need to take action to prevent further damage,” they said.
Joint statement on the two-State solution pic.twitter.com/GsEdZ8l4sR
— France Diplomacy 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo_EN) September 8, 2026
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed they have agreed on the necessity of direct intervention to prevent further escalation.
As part of a coordinated effort, the participating countries—which also include Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden—announced intentions to implement national restrictions or support broader European bans on trade with settlements deemed illegal under international law. Several member states confirmed they are already actively advancing these trade measures through their respective domestic legislative channels.
The UK, France, and Canada threw their support behind initial restrictions enacted by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium, while pledging to implement their own domestic bans on the import of settlement goods.
