18 Organizations Urge Malta to Support Ban on Trade with Israeli Settlements

A coalition of 18 Maltese organizations has called on Malta's Foreign Minister to support a ban on trade with Israeli settlements, following Malta's failure to back a European proposal on the matter. The organizations include human rights, religious, humanitarian, and cultural groups, criticizing the lack of translation of recognition of Palestine into concrete actions.

A coalition of 18 Maltese organizations sent a letter to Malta's Foreign Minister Chris Fearne, urging support for an EU-level proposal on trade related to illegal Israeli settlements and the enactment of a local law mirroring this ban. The letter comes after Malta did not endorse the proposal, which failed to secure the required majority during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. Malta justified its vote by stating it prefers consensus-based decisions, but affirmed it does not obstruct imposing restrictions if other countries pursue this path. Signatories include human rights, religious, humanitarian, cultural bodies, and the Faculty of Education at the University of Malta. Kurt Borg, head of the organization "Bene Malta," said Malta recognized Palestine and described settlements as illegal but has not translated this recognition into concrete measures, adding: "The government says it prefers a path that everyone knows leads nowhere. This is a choice Malta made amid genocide. We urge the minister to make another choice."