UK plans sanctions to deter Israeli West Bank settlement
7 reported2 unconfirmed
The UK Foreign Office and a group of western countries are due to announce a package of sanctions against Israel this week, according to a report. The sanctions are designed to deter companies from becoming involved in a proposed West Bank settlement known as the E1 development, which would split the territory in two and render a two-state solution near impossible. Tenders were opened this month for more than 3,000 homes between Jerusalem and the Ma’ale Adumim. The UK package is expected to spell out how UK firms would be hit with sanctions for involvement in E1, as well as impose new sanctions on entities supporting settler violence. It is not clear if the UK will go so far as to ban trade with illegal settlements. The report notes that nine countries including France, the UK and Australia have warned that settlement violence must stop and no company should be involved in E1.
What’s reported
The UK Foreign Office and a group of western countries are due to announce a package of sanctions against Israel this week.
The sanctions aim to deter companies from involvement in the proposed E1 West Bank settlement.
Tenders were opened this month for more than 3,000 homes between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim.
Nine countries including France, the UK and Australia have warned against settlement violence and E1 involvement.
137 Labour MPs sent a letter to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper urging action against settlement trade.
The UK package is expected to sanction UK firms involved in E1 and entities supporting settler violence.
It is not clear if the UK will ban trade with illegal settlements.
Open questions
Whether the UK will go so far as to ban trade with illegal settlements.
Whether the EU will impose sanctions, as the Czech Republic is said to be holding out.
Key figures
Wes Streeting, former health secretary and Labour MP
Yvette Cooper, foreign secretary
Melanie Ward, Labour MP and former chief executive of Medical Aid for Palestinians
Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli finance minister
Itamar Ben Gvir, Israeli security minister
Jean-Noël Barrot, French foreign minister
Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs select committee
Jess Phillips, former safeguarding minister
Sources: The Guardian
