Take action to stop trade with settlements
The advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2024 makes it clear: governments allowing trade with the settlement economy are complicit in the maintenance and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and thus in sustaining Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. Call on our government to cease trade with illegal settlements:
*** Following the 8 September announcement by the UK Government introducing sanctions against Israeli settlements, this campaign is now closed. Thank you for all who supported this campaign – your actions have helped to bring this welcome step from the UK government. ***
Write to your MP today
*Please insert the first line of your address below, not your postcode
Call on your MP to press the UK Government to adopt the following actions:
- adopt and implement legislation explicitly banning trade, including services and investment, with settlements.
- Revisit and redraft bilateral agreements between Israel to prohibit trade, including the provision of services and investments, with Israeli settlements, which are crucial relations that maintain the illegal occupation.
- Bar financial institutions, banks and other corporations headquartered within their jurisdiction from investing with settlement based companies, or in transactions with other companies that assist or maintain Israel’s illegal occupation.
WHY TRADE WITH SETTLEMENTS NEEDS TO BE STOPPED
Over the last four years, Israel has significantly accelerated its settlement activities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, marking a staggering increase in both settlement construction and Palestinian land appropriation.
The advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2024 makes it clear: governments allowing trade with the settlement economy are complicit in the maintenance and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and thus in sustaining Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.
Embrace the Middle East is part of an alliance of more than 80 civil society organisations which launched a campaign “Stop Trade with Settlements,” demanding countries ban all trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), including by major multinational companies and financial institutions sustaining the settlement enterprise.
The UK Government’s decision to recognise the State of Palestine in September 2025 is a welcome step, but it must be followed by concrete action against Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian territory, without which, recognition remains a symbolic act without real impact on the ground.
Campaign report – Trading with Illegal Settlements
The campaign’s joint report, ‘The Trading with Illegal Settlements: How Foreign States and Corporations Enable Israel’s Illegal Settlement Enterprise’, documents how multinational corporations and financial institutions are or have been involved in sustaining Israel’s illegal settlement economy.
FIND OUT MORE: IMPACT OF SETTLEMENTS & OCCUPATION ON THE WEST BANK
Understanding Israeli Settlements: A Guide
What are Israeli settlements? Why are they unlawful under international law? How do they shape the daily realities of Palestinians and their land? Our guide will tell you!
The impact of demolitions and forced displacement.
Attacks on farmland and livelihoods
Movement restrictions and checkpoints
Other ways you can take action to end injustice in the West Bank
CHILDHOOD BEHIND BARS
