Portugal and eleven other countries announced a set of sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This joint action represents a coordinated position of the international community regarding Israeli expansion policies in the occupied territories.
The twelve signatory countries demand that the Israeli Government immediately halt the expansion of settlements and civil administrative powers in the West Bank. This demand arises as a fundamental condition for a possible modification of the implemented sanctions regime.
The West Bank is currently experiencing unprecedented levels of violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against the local Palestinian population. This situation of instability has been widely documented by international human rights organizations.
The joint position of these countries demonstrates a willingness to diplomatically pressure Israel to reverse its settlement policies, at a time when the humanitarian and security situation in the region remains extremely fragile.
