London – Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the United Kingdom’s decision to prohibit trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling it a stand for justice and the under‑dog. Burnham told Parliament that Britain must act against what he described as bullying of families from their homes.
International reaction
Israel responded swiftly, shutting the British consulate in east Jerusalem and banning eleven British lawmakers from entering the country. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned that the United Kingdom would be expelled from a joint military monitoring centre for the Gaza cease‑fire and that training of Palestinian Authority security forces would end.
Broader diplomatic context
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband labeled the settlement activity as “settler terrorism” and “ethnic cleansing,” citing bulldozed houses, destroyed infrastructure and displaced families. He also announced a tightening of Britain’s weapons embargo on Israel to include arms that “materially contribute to the occupation” of Palestinian territories.
Other allies, including France and Canada, said they would consider similar measures. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Poland, Portugal and Sweden pledged further support, while the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Norway have already banned or are reviewing settlement goods.
Domestic response
Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin warned that the ban could jeopardise counter‑terror cooperation with Israel, describing the situation as a “tit‑for‑tat” diplomatic dispute. Nonetheless, the economic impact is expected to be limited because settlement exports consist largely of agricultural products.
Support for the policy came from former Irish President Mary Robinson and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who urged the European Union to follow the United Kingdom’s lead and protect a two‑state solution.
Background
Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, settlement construction in the West Bank has accelerated, with the Israeli government viewing the territory as the biblical and historical homeland of the Jewish people. The international community widely regards the settlements as illegal, and the United Kingdom has repeatedly expressed concern over projects such as the E1 development, which could split Palestinian territory.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
