The United Kingdom has announced sweeping measures against Israeli settlements and individuals accused of supporting violence against Palestinians.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the government would introduce sanctions targeting trade, services and financial activity connected to Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
The measures represent one of Britain’s strongest condemnations of Israeli settlement activity and violence against Palestinians.
UK Targets Israeli Settlement Activities
The British government plans to ban imports from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.
It will also impose restrictions on services linked to settlements, including construction and financial activities.
UK-based advertising of properties located in the settlements will also be prohibited.
Britain further plans personal sanctions against individuals accused of supporting settler violence.
The government will also restrict arms licences and exports that could materially contribute to the Israeli occupation.
According to Miliband, the proposed legislation covering the trade restrictions and sanctions is expected to be introduced within nine months.
Britain Declares West Bank Occupation Unlawful
Miliband told Parliament that Britain now considers Israel’s occupation of the West Bank unlawful in its entirety.
He said Palestinians in parts of the West Bank were facing what he described as ethnic cleansing carried out by “settler terrorists.”
The British foreign secretary also accused parts of the Israeli government of supporting or failing to prevent violence and forced displacement.
The announcement comes amid growing international criticism of Israeli settlement expansion and violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Israel Rejects UK Position
Israel strongly rejected the British government’s position.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Miliband of spreading what he called “outrageous lies” and said Britain was taking hostile action against Israel.
Saar also announced possible retaliatory measures.
These include plans to close the British consulate in Jerusalem and exclude the UK from a US-led Gaza coordination mission.
The United Kingdom is among a group of countries announcing measures targeting trade with Israeli settlements.
The countries include Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
The latest British measures are expected to increase diplomatic pressure on Israel over settlement activity, Palestinian displacement and the wider conflict in the region.
