Britain will ban imports of goods made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Tuesday, a major tightening of the government’s policy toward Israel.
As settlement expansion continues in the West Bank, Miliband told the House of Commons that the measures were meant to preserve the prospect of a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, BBC News reported.
The ban is part of a larger package of measures targeting Israeli settlements. Britain also said to be curbing some services related to settlements, such as financing, construction, infrastructure, real estate and advertising.
Miliband has said in the past that he wanted to “reset” Britain’s relationship with Israel. The government has grown increasingly critical of the expansion of Israeli settlements and violence in the West Bank. The international community generally considers Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories illegal under international law.
The measure is unlikely to have a significant impact on overall UK-Israel trade, as goods produced in settlements make up a small share of bilateral trade. But it signals a tougher diplomatic approach by Britain.
The policy has drawn fire from Israeli officials and some US representatives who claim the measures meddle in Israeli affairs. British officials say the measures are intended to keep alive the chances of a negotiated two-state solution.
