Twelve countries, including Poland, announced national or European restrictions on trade in goods from Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank on 8 September. Britain, France and Canada have declared their own import bans. Poland has not yet presented a detailed mechanism. It is at stake to defend global law without giving Polish politics to the automation of another people's diplomacy.
Twelve countries signed a common position
Foreign Ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom announced on 8 September a common position concerning Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank. The paper announces commercial activities, but does not mean that all countries have already introduced an identical ban.
Official message published by the UK Government speaks of the intention to adopt national restrictions, to support European restrictions or to actively consider specified measures in accordance with national procedures. London, Paris and Ottawa announced national bans on trade in goods from settlements. Poland was included in the political coalition, but has not yet given what variant it will choose.
The restrictions are for settlements, not all of Israel
The scope is important. The British government emphasizes that sanctions are directed at goods and services related to settlements in occupied areas alternatively than into trade with Israel as a state. The common position opposes actions leading to the annexation of Palestinian lands, forced resettlement and the force of settlers.
At the same time, the paper recognises Israel's right to security, condemns Hamas' terrorist attack of 7 October and declares its fight against anti-Semitism. It's a essential distinction. It is possible to powerfully criticize the settlement policy of the Israeli government by not shifting work to the judaic people or Israeli citizens as a collective.
No European unanimity
A fewer days earlier The European Union has failed to agree on common trade sanctions. Today's coalition bypasses this deadlock through national action and political force at European level. This method allows any capitals to decision forward without waiting for unanimity, but risks creating different rules within the common market.
For entrepreneurs, the worst would be ambiguity. They must know which codes of origin, papers and supply chains will be subject to control. The slogan of sanctions without a customs procedure creates a field for chaos, selective enforcement and shifting costs to companies that do not participate in political dispute.
Poland cannot sign blanks
Warsaw should print its own executive position: the exact scope of goods, the legal basis, the way in which the origin verification was carried out and the impact assessment for Polish companies. The Polish signature under the joint declaration must not mean the automatic adoption of any solution prepared in London, Paris or Brussels. A sovereign abroad policy is to find the means for the intent independently.
The government besides has a work to guarantee that relations with Israel are consistent. The case of the death of Polish volunteer Damian Sobol showed the request for firm diplomacy. Poland cannot stay silent in matters of global law, but should not participate in a symbolic race that does not produce measurable results.
What matters is the effect, not the gesture.
The intent of the regulation is to halt the expansion of settlements and defend the position of 2 countries. It is so essential to measure whether the measures chosen are actually hitting those liable for expansion or whether they are just changing the direction of the movement of goods. Sanctions without impact control can become a moral alibi for politicians.
For Poland the credibility of the state, the safety of citizens and the right to its own assessment of the situation are at stake. Hardness to violations does not require submission to another people’s interests. It requires clear rules, precise law and readiness to talk to each side.
Source: Joint message by abroad Ministers, Bankier.pl.
Source: Bankier.pl
