Ankara: Trkiye welcomes the decision of 12 countries to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its welcome and support for the steps taken by 12 countries, led by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, to ban trade and commercial relations with illegal settlements in the West Bank.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday, commenting on a joint statement by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom regarding the two-state solution. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said: ‘We welcome and support the steps taken by 12 countries, led by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, to ban trade and commercial relations with illegal settlements in the West Bank.’

The Turkish Foreign Ministry noted in its statement that Israel’s efforts to eliminate the two-state solution are intensifying daily, emphasizing that illegal settlements have become a systematic policy of occupation and have reached the point of threatening the existence of a Palestinian state.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry stressed that ‘settler terrorism’ has reached the level of ethnic cleansing. It added: ‘Taking the necessary action against Israeli occupation activities has become a prerequisite for ensuring a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region.’ In this context, they expect all responsible members of the international community to take similar decisions.

The Foreign Ministry affirmed that Turkey will continue its efforts to establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, with territorial unity and East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders.

Earlier on Tuesday, the foreign ministers of 12 Western countries announced restrictions on trade in goods with settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. This came in a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom regarding the two-state solution.