UK announces sanctions on Israeli settlement goods in West Bank
Britain plans to ban imports from Israeli settlements and introduce a broader sanctions regime, though the timing and scope remain unresolved.
Britain will introduce an import ban on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and establish a broader sanctions regime, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told parliament.
Miliband said the UK could no longer limit its response to condemning settlement expansion. He said the measures were intended to oppose further settlement growth and what he described as the destruction of the two-state solution.
The proposed action targets settlement-related goods and services rather than Israeli trade generally. Earlier reporting has identified possible restrictions on construction and financing services, as well as advertising settlement properties, but the government has not provided a detailed scope or implementation date.
The UK government says the occupation of the West Bank is unlawful and that “ethnic cleansing” is occurring in parts of the territory. Those positions were presented by Miliband as the basis for the proposed measures.
The United States has criticised the plan through its ambassador to Israel, while two Israeli ministers have called for measures against Britain. France, Canada and potentially other countries have been linked to similar initiatives, with France saying up to 12 countries could participate.
The effect on annual UK-Israel trade, valued at about £6 billion, remains uncertain. Al Jazeera reported that the impact may be limited, but it is not yet clear how settlement-produced goods would be distinguished from products made in Israel.
