UK, France and Canada sanction Israeli settlements in West Bank as Britain accuses settlers of ‘ethnic cleansing’

The United Kingdom, France, and Canada have announced sanctions against illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, accusing settlers of "ethnic cleansing" against Palestinians. The sanctions, announced in the UK Parliament, aim to protect the two-state solution and uphold British values. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband emphasized that the Israeli government frequently turns a blind eye to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the West Bank and has supported the forced displacement of Palestinians by settlers.

The joint statement by Miliband, Prime Minister Andy Burnham of the UK, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that the sanctions would ban the import of goods from settlements and target those who facilitate or profit from them. Other Western nations, including Oman and Qatar, also welcomed the decision, while Israel and the United States threatened retaliation.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar called the move an "absurd political decision" and accused Britain of interfering with Israel's elections. The sanctions are expected to be implemented within six to nine months, and their implementation could have significant implications for international relations, especially with the United States, which has a strong alliance with Israel.