Goa, Sept. 9 -- Twelve countries, including Britain, Canada and France, have announced plans to impose trade restrictions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, following a surge in attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their communities.

Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden are also expected to introduce measures targeting trade with Israeli settlements, according to a joint statement issued by the countries' foreign ministers on Tuesday.

The decision comes after weeks of escalating attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages across the West Bank. The violence has drawn growing condemnation from the international community and increased calls for stronger measu...