UK to ban goods from Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank

The United Kingdom (UK) is expected to announce a ban on imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, Work and Pensions Minister Pat McFadden has said, describing the measure as part of efforts to protect the prospects of a two-state solution.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is expected to set out the restrictions in Parliament later on Tuesday.

McFadden said the move followed increased illegal Israeli settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank, which Britain and other Western governments have criticised.

“The reason that danger has become more urgent is because of expanded settlement activity in recent weeks and months,” McFadden told the media.

He stated that the policy was intended to support the possibility of a two-state settlement between Israel and Palestine.

McFadden also told a British news channel that Israel would remain an important trading partner for Britain and that the measure will not amount to a boycott of Israeli goods generally.

The economic impact is expected to be limited. Britain’s annual bilateral trade with Israel is worth about £6 billion ($8.12 billion), while goods originating from West Bank settlements account for only a small share of that trade.

The announcement follows Miliband’s indication last week that Britain would reset its policy towards Israel.

Britain and other European countries criticised Israel’s plans for development in the E1 area of the West Bank in August. Western governments have said the project could undermine the territorial basis for a future Palestinian state.

The United Nations and most governments, including Britain, regard Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal and consider the territory to be under military occupation.

Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands have also moved towards banning imports from Israeli settlements, although not all of their restrictions have taken effect.

UK-Israel relations have become increasingly strained over Israel’s genocide in Gaza, settlement expansion and attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians.