UK set to ban trade with Israeli settlements in West Bank on Tuesday, 'Post' learns - exclusive
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told the House of Commons last week the UK needs “a comprehensive reset of our policy” when it comes to the West Bank.
The United Kingdom is set to announce a ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank on Tuesday, according to sources cited by The Jerusalem Post. While not entirely surprising, the timing on the cusp of the Jewish New Year may catch British Jews off guard. The ban is expected to encompass goods manufactured in the settlements, as well as targeted sanctions against British entities and individuals.
Jewish organizations, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council, have expressed apprehension that the sanctions could strain the UK-Israel relationship and adversely affect UK Jews. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis warned that the proposed sanctions would be counterproductive and potentially endanger peace efforts, as many in the community view them with dismay.
They could also disproportionately impact British Jews due to their close ties with Israel on religious, family, charitable, and educational fronts. Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat cautioned that harming diplomatic relations with Israel could jeopardize British citizens, as UK security services have thwarted terrorist attacks in part through intelligence shared with British counterparts by Israeli sources.
Jonathan Turner of UK Lawyers for Israel contended that a blanket ban on imports of goods from Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria would violate World Trade Organization rules, bilateral agreements, and EU law applicable to Northern Ireland. While some criticize the move as driven by irrational anger over perceived anti-Israel narratives, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reportedly not spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since assuming office 50 days prior, despite continued efforts to impose additional sanctions on Israel.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has yet to comment on the matter, while Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister's lack of communication with Netanyahu.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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