Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546037
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 AUGUST 2026 NEWS urges Malta to back EU trade settlements in West Bank for the measure to be intro- duced. "Malta's vote in favour, along with other countries, would guarantee a qualified majority to put such measure into ef- fect," he said, adding this would mark an important milestone in upholding international law and strengthening the EU's credibility. Hanania also referred to the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, saying it supported the ap- proach being proposed. "This approach is consistent with the 2024 Advisory Opin- ion of the ICJ, which affirmed that States must neither rec- ognise nor render aid or assis- tance to the unlawful situation created by the occupation, in- cluding through trade and eco- nomic relations that sustain il- legal settlements," he said. Malta prefers unanimity route An official government source told MaltaToday that Malta's position should not be interpreted as opposition to re- stricting trade with Israeli set- tlements. The source said such restrictions involve political decisions and should therefore be adopted through the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy framework, which re- quires unanimity among mem- ber states. Malta maintains that it is not blocking action but is advocat- ing what it considers the more appropriate legal route for ad- dressing the issue. Malta has consistently rec- ognised the State of Palestine and has repeatedly stated that Israeli settlements in the occu- pied Palestinian territories are illegal under international law, while supporting a negotiated two-state solution. However, Malta was not among the EU countries back- ing the initiative to explore the Article 207 route (qualified majority). The government has maintained that discussions on the issue should continue through the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy framework. There are over 780,000 Israeli settlers residing across 542 ille- gal settlements and outposts in the Occupied Territories. Over recent years, state-backed set- tler violence against Palestini- an communities, including the usurpation of land has intensi- fied. Prominent organisations like Amnesty International con- clude that the dual legal sys- tem used by Israel to subjugate Palestinians while shielding settlers mirrors a structure of apartheid. Spain: Introduced restrictions on settlement goods, including measures using customs information to identify settlement-origin products. Ireland: Adopted legislation prohibiting the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Belgium: Approved measures establishing controls and penalties aimed at preventing trade linked to settlement production. Netherlands: Adopted measures restricting trade connected to Israeli settlements, including goods originating from the Golan Heights. Norway: Considering legislation restricting trade with Israeli settlements. Countries restricting settlement trade The Hilltop Youth is a Jewish extremist settler movement that was sanctioned by the EU in 2024. Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal by the UN (File photo) Maltese Foreign Minister Chris Fearne (left) with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys at the council meeting on 13 July where Malta was not one of the 11 member states that called for a trade ban with illegal Israeli settlements to be agreed through qualified majority voting (Photo: EU)