UK urged to act 'comprehensively' against Israel's settlement plans

Labour Muslim Network and International Centre of Justice for Palestinians have released a legal briefing urging the British government to respond robustly to Israel's E1 settlement project. The briefing, titled "Priority Measures for UK Policy on Palestine," comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham's administration appears set to unveil new measures against Israel in September. The project, situated east of Jerusalem, is feared to fragment the occupied West Bank.

The Labour Muslim Network (LMN) and ICJP warn that the E1 settlement could undermine the prospects of a viable Palestinian state. Settlement expansion, settler violence, and terrorism, along with the forcible displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank, are intensifying daily. The briefing emphasizes that the UK government and the international community must act swiftly and comprehensively to counter this destructive proposal.

Under international humanitarian law, the UK is obligated to respect the laws governing settlements and ensure their compliance under the Geneva Conventions. The LMN and ICJP recommend a comprehensive policy approach from the UK, encompassing a complete ban on British entities engaging in economic and financial activities in illegal Israeli settlements and those supporting the wider illegal settlement economy.

Labour Friends of Israel, a faction within Labour, has suggested that certain settlements are justifiable and called on the government not to impose a ban on goods from these areas. However, a recent poll of Labour members shows overwhelming support for a trade embargo with Israeli settlements, with 87 percent in favor and only six percent opposed.

The LMN and ICJP briefing further suggests that the Foreign Office should periodically report to Parliament on religious site violations and push for a Security Council resolution to monitor such violations at Jerusalem's holy sites.