U.K. defends sanctions on Israeli settlements after 30-day consulate closure order
Britain's foreign minister Ed Miliband said the U.K. "could not simply stand by because we feared Israeli reaction.”
The United States' response to the UK's sanctions on Israeli settlements has demonstrated that the British move was far from merely a hollow display of symbolism. In a week where the Trump administration was rumoured to be fiercely opposed to the UK's proposal, it ultimately chose not to challenge or publicly rebuke the British government.
This surprising stance has left the UK looking like a formidable player in the international arena, as multiple countries from around the world joined the UK in condemning illegal Israeli settlements. The sanctions, while not likely to cripple Israeli settlements, served as a powerful diplomatic rebuke to American policy in the Middle East.
Moreover, the shift in rhetoric and policies adopted by the UK has the potential to bring about a significant change in international relations, particularly in isolating the Israeli government and altering the perception of western states' support for Israel.
Written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- How US response shows UK sanctions on Israeli settlements are much more than hollow symbolism middleeasteye.net
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