Spain, Italy Warn against Business with ’Israeli’ Settlements

Local Editor

The Spanish and Italian governments issued a warning to their citizens on Friday against doing business with "Israeli" settlements in the West Bank and in east Occupied al-Quds, and in the Golan Heights.

The foreign ministries of both countries announced that companies engaging in economic activity in the settlements would be making themselves vulnerable to a series of risks.

According to the announcements made by Spain and Italy, the European Union and its member states do not recognize "Israeli" rule in the West Bank, East al-Quds and the Golan Heights, which were occupied in 1967, and regard the settlements as illegal in international law.

For this reason, the announcements stated, private companies doing business, transferring funds, investing money, signing contracts, buying land or receiving tourist services from companies in the settlements would be taking legal and financial risks.

"The current situation could lead to disputes over land, water, quarries or natural resources that were acquired or in which money was invested," read the statement from the Spanish Foreign Ministry. "Companies must take into account that [financial activity in the settlements] is liable to lead to their involvement in breaking international law and violating human rights."

Spanish Foreign Ministry officials stated that the warning was the implementation of a decision by the European Union and alignment with actions taken by Germany, France and the United Kingdom..

On Tuesday, the French government issued a similar warning, in which it warned against engaging in financial activity or investments in the "Israeli" settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds, and in the Golan Heights. A French diplomat said the warning was part of a joint act by the five largest countries in the European Union - Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain.

The United Kingdom and Germany issued such warnings several months ago, and now, in light of the failure of the talks between the Zionist entity and the Palestinian Authority and the European protests over the recent wave of construction in the settlements, three more countries joined them.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team