The Palestinian National Liberation Movement “Fatah” called on European governments to take steps to ensure that their companies are prevented from dealing with Israeli settlements.
Fatah spokesperson, Jamal Nazzal stressed in a statement that it is time for European governments to implement international laws and their own laws at the European Union level regarding stopping commercial dealings with Israeli settlements, which he stressed deepens the occupation and violates the rights of the Palestinian people.
Fatah spokesperson said that this is a legitimate economic pressure tool after decades of political sabotage caused by the existence of extreme right-wing governments led by former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He added that such a step would prompt the new Israeli government to break away from previous approaches of antagonizing peace, and would give Europe a more advanced role in the region.
The US company Ben & Jerry’s has said it will stop selling its ice cream in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, stating that sales in the Occupied Palestinian Territory were “inconsistent with our values”.
Meanwhile, PLO Executive Committee Member, Ahmad Majdalani, called on the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to re-publish the list of companies operating in settlements and update their database, in light of new developments.
He added that sanctions must be imposed on such companies to pressure them to end their work in settlements in accordance with international law.
Sabri Saidam, senior Fatah official Sabri Saidam called on companies operating in settlements to follow the example of Ben & Jerry company, especially since there is a global will to boycott settlement products.
Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency