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🇵🇾 Paraguay /Economy & Trade

UK bans trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Approved/passed
  • The British government banned imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and prohibited services provided to them, including construction, consulting and advertising.
  • Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the policy responds to settlement expansion, which Britain considers harmful to a two-state solution, and announced sanctions against companies and individuals involved.
  • The move followed criticism of Israel’s plans for 1,234 homes in E1, which London says could divide the West Bank and undermine a viable Palestinian state.

Britain has banned trade in goods and services with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, arguing that their expansion damages the prospects for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The government also announced sanctions against companies and individuals that continue to provide services to the settlements.

measures will be taken against companies and individuals that provide services to the settlements

· Ed MilibandThe British foreign secretary described the services that would be covered by the new restrictions.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Parliament that imports from the settlements would be prohibited. Measures would also target businesses and individuals providing construction, consulting or advertising services. He described the policy as consistent with Britain’s support for Israel and its people, as well as its opposition to antisemitism.

Miliband, who said he was a “proud Jew,” also said the British government would officially adopt the July 2024 position of the International Court of Justice that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal. He said that “war crimes appear to have been committed” in Israel’s offensive in Gaza after Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and accused the Israeli government of allowing “ethnic cleansing” by settlers.

proud Jew

· Ed MilibandMiliband referred to his Jewish identity while defending the policy.

The announcement coincided with a statement by 12 countries, including Britain, expressing concern over the worsening situation in the West Bank and signaling plans to restrict trade in goods from settlements they regard as illegal under international law. Britain imposed sanctions in June on people and entities linked to settler violence and advised British companies not to do business with the settlements. Labour lawmakers had called for a complete trade ban.

war crimes appear to have been committed

· Ed MilibandHe described the situation in Gaza during Israel’s offensive.

London’s latest decision followed condemnation of an Aug. 18 Israeli tender for 1,234 homes in E1, east of Jerusalem. The homes form part of a 3,401-unit project approved the previous year. Britain says the development would divide the West Bank and weaken the possibility of a viable Palestinian state.

ethnic cleansing

· Ed MilibandHe accused the Israeli government of allowing this by settlers in the West Bank.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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