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France prepares sanctions against settlement policy

France is considering sharp economic measures against Israeli goods and businesses east of the Green Line, and might implement these measures once the agreement with Iran is signed.
France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (R) is welcomed by Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki upon Fabius' arrival at the West Bank city of Ramallah June 21, 2015. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prefaced talks about a French-led peace initiative on Sunday by saying foreign powers were trying to dictate to Israel a deal with the Palestinians. Fabius, on a two-day visit to the Middle East, was due to meet Palestinian leaders in the occupied West Bank before seeing Netanyahu later in the day. REU
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The boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, aiming to boycott Israel diplomatically, economically and culturally, engages for the most part left-wing pro-Palestinian groups around the world. They tend to adhere to it with the hope of weakening Israel internationally. But there is a substantial difference between the somewhat spontaneous activities of the BDS movement and the more structured policy attitudes and decisions by governments of possible sanctions against Israel. These include measures that could serve to pressure the Israeli government to agree to a political process leading to a two-state solution.

The BDS movement, by nature, is more anarchic, without a central mastermind or headquarters. It attracts people and organizations that wish to express solidarity with the Palestinian people under occupation.

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