UK Prime Minister and Labour leader Andy Burnham is expected to approve a ban on goods linked to Israeli settlements after Israel issued tenders for more than 1,200 housing units in the occupied West Bank’s E1 area.
The proposed measure has support from more than 140 Labour MPs and human rights advocates, while the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office says it does not comment on speculation about fresh sanctions.
Why E1 has triggered a response
The Israeli government’s tender concerns a project that would ultimately connect occupied East Jerusalem with the large settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. Settlements and outposts on occupied land are illegal under international law.
On August 19, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK opposed the E1 tender and had summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires. He said the government would set out measures in the coming weeks to target those involved in illegal settlement expansion and protect the viability of a Palestinian state. For additional context, see “What makes Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank a pogrom?”.
Key points
- The E1 project would create a settlement corridor between occupied East Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim, about 7km (4.5 miles) east of Jerusalem.
- YouGov polling cited in the report found that 50 percent of Britons supported a ban on trade with illegal settlements, while 16 percent opposed one.
- The UK government has described E1 settlement expansion as unacceptable and destructive.
Support and objections to the proposed ban
Labour lawmaker Richard Burgon said sanctions would help the UK meet what he described as its moral and legal obligations. Human Rights Watch also welcomed a possible ban, arguing that concrete consequences could do more than condemnation alone.
The Labour Friends of Israel has argued that measures extending beyond violent extremist settlers and organisations could cause economic harm to Britons, Palestinians and Israelis, and might become a de facto boycott of Israel. Human Rights Watch disputes the claim that a ban would be impossible to implement, saying businesses could move their operations out of occupied territory. A related part of this story is covered in “Fire near Ein Siniya factory adds to West Bank economic attacks”.
What happens next
The government has not confirmed the proposed sanctions. The Foreign Office said the foreign secretary remains clear that illegal settlements threaten the viability of a Palestinian state and undermine security for Israelis and Palestinians.
The government’s stated next step is to set out a comprehensive package of measures in the coming weeks. The development of this issue can be followed in “Why Israel’s E1 settlement plan matters before the election”.
What happens next
The UK government is expected to set out its measures in the coming weeks, but it has not confirmed whether a settlement-goods ban will be included.
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