- UK foreign secretary David Miliband accused Israeli 'terrorists' of conducting ethnic cleansing in the West Bank with the tacit backing of the Israeli government, and announced sweeping sanctions with France and Canada on trade with Israeli settlements.
- The UK will enact a comprehensive sanctions package, including an import ban on settlement goods, a ban on services like construction and financing, and personal sanctions on individuals promoting settler violence.
- UK officially considers Israel's occupation of the West Bank unlawful in its entirety, marking a significant shift in the UK's stance.
- Twelve countries confirm their intention to introduce national and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods with settlements illegal under international law.
- The UK also announced sanctions on Hezbollah's financing arm and reimposed major economic sanctions on Iran.
- Miliband said the Israeli government had often turned a blind eye to settler violence and had supported the forced displacement of Palestinians.
- Miliband, identifying as a proud British Jew, stated there was no contradiction between his Jewishness and support for Israel and his support for a two-state solution.
- France and Canada joined the UK in announcing bans on settlement goods, joining several other European countries that have already banned or are in the process of banning such goods.
The UK government has taken a historic stance against Israeli actions in the West Bank, labeling them as ethnic cleansing. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced comprehensive sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements, aligning with France and Canada.1
“The British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank, perpetrated by settler terrorists,” Miliband stated in the Commons.
This marks the first time the UK has declared Israel's occupation unlawful, a significant shift from previous positions.
The sanctions include an import ban on goods from illegal settlements, a comprehensive sanctions regime against services related to settlements, and personal sanctions against individuals promoting settler violence.
“We will now also refuse all licence applications for arms and other exports that materially contribute to the occupation,” Miliband added, emphasizing that these measures would remain until the occupation ends.
The UK joins a coalition of nations, including Canada and France, in imposing trade restrictions on settlement goods, following similar actions by Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands.
“All too often the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this,” Miliband remarked, underscoring the gravity of the situation.6
He expressed his commitment to the two-state solution, stating, “The two-state solution is based on an explicit belief that the only route to security for both peoples is to live side by side in peaceful coexistence.”
The UK also plans to support judicial processes to determine if Israel has committed genocide, reinforcing its commitment to international law and justice.
“The UK will enact a comprehensive sanctions package including an import ban on settlement goods, a ban on services like construction and financing, and personal sanctions on individuals promoting settler violence. Miliband said legislation would be in place within nine months, and that those who financed or facilitated illegal settlements would 'face the full force of UK sanctions.'”
The Guardian
