UK to Restrict Trade With Israeli Settlements — SkimNews
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- Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told the House of Commons he will unveil measures to block UK involvement in the E1 settlement project and restrict trade with illegal West Bank settlements, calling it 'high time' for 'a comprehensive reset.'
- PM Andy Burnham's Labour government, which took power in July, has taken bolder steps on Israel than the prior Conservative administration, joining 21 countries and the EU Commission in condemning the E1 project last month.
- PM Benjamin Netanyahu last month called the UK the 'Islamic Republic of Britain' while criticizing UK media coverage, and Israeli FM Gideon Saar warned Israel would 'act against Britain' if sanctions proceeded, per Israeli outlet Ynet.
- The E1 settlement project would create a continuous corridor from Ma'ale Adumim to occupied East Jerusalem, effectively cutting the West Bank in half, according to the article.
- Under former PM Keir Starmer, the UK, France, and Canada imposed sanctions on six entities and one individual in June over settler violence in the West Bank, with Australia and New Zealand joining shortly before the UK announcement.
Why it matters: Britain's planned settlement trade ban reflects a post-Sunak policy shift under Labour, with the UK now coordinating punitive measures with France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Analyst Zena Agha called the restrictions the 'bare minimum,' warning implementation details remain unclear and could amount to 'lip service' rather than meaningful economic pressure on Israel's settlement economy.
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