The United Kingdom has formalized its decision to sanction trade with Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories in accordance with international law. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced the move in the House of Commons, marking a departure from Keir Starmer's previous Labour government under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham , even at the cost of risking the wrath of the Jewish state and the US administration of Donald Trump.
The announcement was followed by a joint statement from 12 countries, including France and Canada, a similar front to the one that formally recognized the State of Palestine at the UN last year. Only then, former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government had led the way from Paris, while this time it was France that followed the lead of London's new Labour Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, and his new Foreign Minister.
The declaration is also signed by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden : some of which, starting with Dublin and Madrid, had already formally sanctioned Israeli settlements in terms of trade. The 12-party statement, released in parallel with Miliband's announcement to the Westminster Parliament, states that "the Israeli government's actions are undermining any possibility of a two-state solution" based on the "peaceful" coexistence of an Israeli and a Palestinian state side by side.
"The situation," the 12 ministers denounce, "is rapidly deteriorating to unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion." "The government of Benjamin Netanyahu," they warn, " must immediately put an end" to this process, ensuring that "the settlers are held accountable" for their crimes and that "the accusations against the Israeli army are seriously investigated." The conclusion follows, with all 12 countries "confirming their intention to introduce national restrictions or support European ones against trade in settlement products, which are illegal under international law," while announcing that they are "actively evaluating further measures."
Israel's reaction was immediate: "I have called on the prime minister to close the British Consulate in East Jerusalem today, which is openly operating on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. This must be Israel's decisive response to Britain's audacity," said National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
(Unioneonline)