“The European Union’s position is absolutely clear: Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are ‘illegal under international law, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make a two­ state solution impossible’ yet this report shows how European policy helps sustain the settlements. it reveals that the EU imports approximately fifteen times more from the illegal settlements than from the Palestinians themselves.”

Settlements are Israeli communities established on territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab ­Israeli war. Settlements are supported by an infrastructure including special roads, checkpoints, and the separation barrier dividing them from the surrounding Palestinian population.

Settlements violate international law and UN Security Council resolutions and yet, throughout the 45 years of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territory, every Israeli government has promoted continued settlement expansion.

Notes:

http://www.haaretz.com/resources/misc/TradingAwayPeace.pdf

http://www.haaretz.com/israel­news/ngos­urge­european-states­to­cut­trade­with­israeli­settlements­1.473081