The United Kingdom government is set to ban trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, marking a significant tightening of its policy toward Israel and its settlement expansion.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is expected to outline the measures in Parliament as part of what the government has described as a broader reset of its approach to Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The policy is specifically aimed at products originating from Israeli settlements and does not amount to a blanket boycott of Israeli goods, according to British ministers. The government says the move is intended to address settlement expansion that it considers a threat to the viability of a future Palestinian state.
The announcement follows growing British concern over Israel’s plans to expand settlements in the West Bank, particularly the controversial E1 development area. Critics argue that construction there could further divide the West Bank and make the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state more difficult.
The UK government maintains that Israeli civilian settlements in territory captured during the 1967 Middle East war are illegal under international law. Britain has previously sanctioned individuals and organizations linked to settlement activity and settler violence, while also advising businesses against economic and financial activity in the settlements.
The proposed trade restrictions are expected to have a relatively limited direct economic impact because goods produced in West Bank settlements represent only a small portion of total UK-Israel trade. However, the political significance of the decision could be considerable.
Israel has strongly criticized the UK’s tougher approach, while some Israeli officials have threatened retaliatory diplomatic measures. The move has also drawn criticism from U.S. officials, raising concerns about its potential impact on Britain’s wider diplomatic relationships.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reiterated the government’s support for a two-state solution, including in discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. The government says its latest measures are intended to prevent settlement expansion from undermining prospects for a negotiated peace.
The policy represents a notable shift in UK-Israel relations and places Britain among a number of European countries taking stronger positions against economic activity linked to Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The decision is likely to fuel further debate over Britain’s role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, international law and the effectiveness of economic pressure in supporting a two-state solution.
Swifteradio.com
