Shafi, Palestine's ambassador in Vienna, called for the European Union to adopt a joint decision banning trade with the settlements Israel has established in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Shafi said he welcomed the trade ban announced on September 8 by France, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Canada and the United Kingdom. Saying the decisions should be implemented swiftly, Shafi stated that the step taken by the 12 countries was not sufficient on its own.
Boycott should also cover companies and banks
Shafi said the economic structure linked to the settlements consisted not only of products originating from those areas, but also of construction and infrastructure companies and banks providing financing.
Shafi stated that the entire economic structure should be boycotted if the aim was to end the settlements. He expressed hope that the decision by the 12 countries would mark a beginning toward ending Israel's impunity.
Shafi calls on the EU to adopt a joint decision
Shafi said the decision by the 12 countries carried an important political message, showing that the international community did not recognize the settlements as part of Israel and considered them contrary to international law.
Recalling that Germany and Italy had not signed the joint statement, Shafi said the European Union as a whole should boycott trade with Israeli settlements. Describing this step as a positive development, Shafi said it was nevertheless far from sufficient.
Different positions on Palestine in Europe
Shafi argued that European countries did not follow a common foreign policy on the Palestinian issue. He said some countries, such as Spain, described developments in Gaza as genocide, while some European countries had recognized the State of Palestine.
Shafi said Germany continued to sell weapons to Israel and stated that differing approaches among European countries prevented the adoption of a joint decision on trade with the settlements.
Call for respect for international law and support for Palestine
Shafi said they were asking countries not to adopt a pro-Palestinian position, but to respect international law, and recalled the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in 2024. Shafi said the occupation should end and that third countries should help bring about this process.
Shafi also referred to Nicaragua's case against Germany and South Africa's genocide case against Israel, saying that international legal institutions must be respected.
Shafi calls for Gaza to remain on the international agenda
Shafi described Israel's decision to close the United Kingdom's consulate representing Palestine in East Jerusalem in response to the commercial sanctions as an excessive reaction.
Shafi said political parties in Israel were competing to take the most extreme position during the country's election process, and stated that developments in Gaza should remain on the international community's agenda. He said the world's attention should be directed to the genocide he said was continuing in Gaza.
Israel had also announced its decision to close the United Kingdom's consulate representing Palestine in East Jerusalem in response to the commercial sanctions.
