Key facts
- The UK government has deemed Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian territory unlawful.
- New UK measures include banning imports of goods from illegal Israeli settlements.
- Individuals and companies supporting or profiting from illegal settlement activity will be targeted.
- Several extremist settlers involved in violence against Palestinian communities will be sanctioned.
- The UK is acting in concert with France and Canada on settlement trade restrictions.
- The UK is also reimposing major economic sanctions on Iran.
The UK government is introducing new measures to penalize illegal Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank, including banning imports of settlement goods and sanctioning individuals and companies involved in facilitating or profiting from this activity. The move aims to protect the viability of a two-state solution and respond to a rise in settler violence.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that the UK has independently deemed Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian territory "unlawful," aligning with a ruling by the International Court of Justice. The new plans will ban the import of goods from illegal settlements into the UK, and create new designation powers to target individuals and companies that support, facilitate, or profit from such activity. Advertising or promotion of land and property in illegal settlements will also be prohibited.
The government is also strengthening its global human rights sanctions regime to target those who commit serious violations of international humanitarian law, and will use existing powers to sanction several extremist settlers who have supported or incited violence against Palestinian communities. These actions are part of joint efforts with France and Canada to restrict trade with settlements, following similar steps by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Norway.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that Britain must be willing to lead in an increasingly volatile world and that his government will act in defense of its values. He emphasized that the targeted measures are aimed at supporting the two-state solution, not at the Israeli people.
In parallel, the UK is taking action against Iran, sanctioning Lebanese Hezbollah's financing arm and reimposing major economic sanctions on Iran in line with the European Union and the United States. The UK is also reporting Iran to the UN Security Council for its nuclear violations.