UK moves to ban trade in goods from illegal Israeli settlements
Ed Miliband will announce what he has described as a broad reset of the UK’s relations with Israel on Tuesday, promising the government will take a more active approach in supporting the Palestinian cause. In an intervention that is expected to draw fierce criticism from the US and Israel, the foreign secretary will impose a […]
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is set to announce a significant reset of the UK's relations with Israel, proposing a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements. This move, expected to face criticism from the US and Israel, aims to support the Palestinian cause and promote a two-state solution. Miliband plans to emphasize support for Palestinian rights and adherence to international law, including the findings of the international criminal court and the international court of justice.
The proposed measures, which are expected to fall short of demands by Palestinian advocacy groups, could significantly impact the UK-Israel trade relationship, potentially causing disruptions worth billions of pounds. The ban may encompass trade in goods and some services, including financing and advertising of illegal settlements.
Although the UK government has previously stated that it finds distinguishing between products from legal and illegal settlements challenging, the new measures will make such investments unlawful.
The urgency of the UK's action stems from several factors, including Israel's E1 settlement project, the rise in settler violence, and the failure of the Trump administration's Board of Peace. Additionally, the UK is under domestic pressure from the Green Party to take a stance on the Palestinian issue. Despite the US criticism and the threat of reprisals from Israel, Miliband's government is determined to take decisive action in response to the humanitarian situation and the unjust expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
