The UK government is set to announce new restrictions on the purchase of goods produced in Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to information from the BBC. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is expected to outline these measures in the House of Commons on Tuesday, which may include limitations on trade in agricultural products originating from these settlements. Last week, Miliband indicated that he would present a 'comprehensive reset' of the UK’s policy regarding Israel. The Israeli government has previously warned of potential retaliation if new measures are enacted.
Settlements are considered illegal under international law, and there has been an increase in violence against Palestinians by settlers in recent months. One minister stated, 'The statement will be a complete reset of the nature of our Israel-Palestine relationship. It will all feel very different.' This announcement is not solely focused on sanctions; the government aims to achieve broader objectives regarding the Middle East.
While the full details of the measures have not been disclosed, Labour MPs briefed on the plans believe the sanctions will target trade with illegal settlements, potentially affecting both goods and services. Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed to Labour MPs during a parliamentary meeting that Miliband would be making the statement. Burnham also communicated with international leaders about the plans, including a phone call with US President Donald Trump, where he emphasized the importance of a two-state solution.
An official account of the call from No 10 did not clarify whether Burnham briefed Trump on the sanctions, and the US has not publicly commented on the proposals. In July, Stephen Doughty, who was then the Europe minister and has since been appointed Middle East minister, expressed that existing powers to impose restrictions on settlements were insufficient. He noted the need to broaden sanctions powers beyond evidence linked to settler violence.
Ministers reportedly acknowledge that prohibiting a small quantity of mostly agricultural products is largely symbolic but intend to frame the announcement as a significant shift in the UK's broader policy towards Israel. This expected announcement follows Israel's recent opening of tenders for the construction of approximately 1,200 settlement homes in the E1 area, which has faced widespread international criticism.
Israel has refrained from advancing plans in this area for decades due to global pressure. In his first address to Parliament as Foreign Secretary, Miliband described these plans as 'illegal under international law' and warned that they could undermine the viability of a Palestinian state. Prime Minister Burnham also cautioned that Israel's actions in the E1 area could jeopardize the two-state solution.
The anticipated intervention comes nearly a year after Sir Keir Starmer's government recognized a state of Palestine and asserted the UK's moral responsibility to support a peaceful future for both Israelis and Palestinians. The UK government believes that the rapid expansion of settlements threatens the possibility of a two-state solution, which envisions an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital, coexisting alongside Israel.
Israel, however, opposes a two-state solution, asserting that any final agreement must be reached through negotiations with the Palestinians, without preconditions for statehood. The Palestinian Authority supports the two-state solution, while Hamas does not, as it opposes Israel's existence. Hamas has indicated it could accept an interim Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders without formally recognizing Israel, contingent on the right of return for refugees.
Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has established around 160 settlements housing approximately 700,000 Jews in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where an estimated 3.3 million Palestinians reside. There has been an increase in attacks by settlers on Palestinians and their properties in the West Bank since the onset of the Gaza war, which began following a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.