U.K. Defends Sanctions on Israeli Settlements After 30-Day Consulate Closure Order
Britain's foreign minister Ed Miliband said the U.K. "could not simply stand by because we feared Israeli reaction."
TL;DR
- The U.K. has imposed new sanctions on Israeli goods from settlements in the West Bank.
- Britain's Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated the U.K. government considers the occupation of the West Bank unlawful.
- Israel accused the U.K. of systematically working against it and ordered the closure of the U.K. consulate in East Jerusalem within 30 days.
- The sanctions are driven by concern that further delay would undermine the two-state solution.
- The U.N. and International Court of Justice consider the West Bank occupied territory, with continued settlement expansion and displacement of Palestinians documented.
- France and Canada have also announced sanctions on Israeli settlements.
- Some U.S. officials warned of potential business restrictions on British companies, while the Trump administration stated it did not have a comment on a U.S. response but did not want to see destabilization in the West Bank.