In West Bank, date farmers weigh impact of UK sanctions on Israeli settlers
The UK and several other nations are implementing import bans on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. While Palestinians support these measures, Israeli farmers and government officials argue the sanctions are a miscalculation that will force them to seek alternative global markets.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in international trade policy regarding the legality of Israeli settlements, potentially impacting regional economic stability and diplomatic relations.
Image caption, Dates are among the agricultural products commonly exported from Israeli settlements in the West Bank
Juicy brown and ripening yellow dates dangle down from the branches of each palm tree at Israeli settler farms in the Jordan Valley, in the occupied West Bank.
This year, as Israeli growers get ready for a good harvest, they are also preparing for the impact of new Western sanctions against settlements, which are illegal under international law.
The UK government has announced an import ban on settlement goods and said it planned to take action against companies and individuals who provide services for settlement expansion, as part of what it calls a "comprehensive reset" of policy towards Israel following similar moves by several other European countries.
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