Backlash Grows Over Canada, Uk and France’s New Measures Against Israel

Israeli leaders and Canadian Jewish organizations are sharply condemning new measures targeting Israeli settlements, accusing Western governments of interfering in Israel’s election and undermining prospects for peace.
Canada, Britain and France’s decision to move toward banning trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria has triggered a growing backlash from Israel and its supporters.
The three countries made the commitment as part of a broader statement from 12 governments condemning Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence.

Israel Blasts Canada
In a sharply worded statement, Israel in Canada accused the Carney government and its partners of “meddling in domestic democratic elections” and “singling out the one Jewish State.”
Israel argued that the measures would harm Palestinians economically, undermine peace efforts and contribute to antisemitism.
“It very well might earn Canada another round of ‘thank-yous’ from Hamas while pushing a real solution for peace and prosperity further away,” the statement said.
It concluded: “Israel rejects Canada’s attempt to influence the outcome of the elections in Israel, as well as the decision to sacrifice bilateral trade for political gain.”

Herzog: ‘A Grave Miscalculation’
Israeli President Isaac Herzog similarly warned that sanctions from Britain “or any other nation” would constitute a “grave miscalculation” and “gross interference in the democratic elections of a sovereign nation.”
“Sanctions are not a solution — dialogue is,” Herzog said, urging governments to “step away from the dead-end of sanctions and boycotts.”

CIJA Condemns Ottawa
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) also strongly condemned the Canadian government.
CEO Noah Shack accused Ottawa of applying a “troubling double standard toward Israel” and warned that the policy could have consequences for Canadian Jews already confronting heightened antisemitism and security concerns.
“These sanctions fail to advance peace or security for Israelis and Palestinians,” Shack said, adding that they could also hurt Canadian workers and businesses.

Calls for Israeli Retaliation
The reaction has extended beyond Israel and Canada.
Israeli officials have threatened retaliatory measures against Britain, while prominent American conservative commentator Mark Levin called on Israel to cut intelligence ties with the UK, arguing that Britain benefits substantially from Israeli intelligence on Middle Eastern terrorism.

The dispute is consequently becoming about much more than settlement goods.
Israel and its supporters increasingly portray the measures as foreign interference weeks before Israelis vote, while Canada and its European partners maintain that pressure is necessary to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.
What began as an effort targeting Israeli settlements is quickly developing into a broader diplomatic confrontation — with Canada now directly in the middle of it.