RAMALLAH, September 23, 2026 (WAFA) – Britain, France, Sweden and other European countries are leading diplomatic efforts to pressure the administration of US President Donald Trump to toughen its stance toward Israel over continued colonial settlement expansion and colonists’ attacks in the occupied West Bank, amid growing Israeli concerns that economic sanctions could widen.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported this evening that the European efforts have intensified in recent weeks in an attempt to push the US administration to take practical steps in response to Israeli policies, rather than limiting its response to statements of condemnation.
According to the channel, the efforts are focused on continued colonial settlement construction and expansion in the occupied West Bank, as well as escalating colonists’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property.
The developments come amid growing warnings in Israel over the deterioration of the situation in the West Bank, as colonists’ attacks and tensions on the ground continue to escalate.
The report said that Britain and France, along with other European countries, including Sweden, are leading efforts to pressure Washington to toughen its stance toward Israeli policies in the West Bank.
Earlier this month, 12 countries announced their intention to introduce national restrictions on trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and/or support European restrictions to this effect. The countries are Britain, France, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
The channel reported that discussions in Israel are currently focused on the potential expansion of these measures amid growing concerns that the restrictions could impact companies and economic interests operating within the 1948 territories due to their ties to activities or entities operating in colonial settlements built on occupied West Bank land.
The channel quoted Israeli diplomats as saying that Washington is paying increasing attention to Israeli policies in the West Bank, specifically regarding both colonists’ violence and the broader policies adopted by the Israeli government.
According to the same sources, European countries are seeking to exert direct pressure on the US administration to push it to take concrete steps regarding colonial settlement expansion and colonists’ attacks, rather than limiting its response to statements of condemnation.
T.R.
