UK Tightens Restrictions on Israeli Settlements in the West Bank
The British prime minister has said the country will intensify measures against Israel’s settlement policies in the occupied West Bank, in a move that follows London’s decision to ban trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements.
He said the measures target the current Israeli cabinet’s “unacceptable” policies. According to him, Palestinian suffering is “a stain on the conscience of the world,” and the British government will not remain silent over the situation in Gaza and the shrinking prospect of implementing a two-state solution.
The British prime minister also said his government had long hesitated to take such steps because it was concerned about being accused of antisemitism.
The stance came a day after Israel, in response to the British government’s decision to ban imports of goods produced in settlements, announced it would close the British consulate in Jerusalem and bar 12 British officials from entering the occupied territories.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the British decision “stupid” and accused the Labour government of “promoting antisemitism.” Yair Lapid, leader of Israel’s opposition, also described the move as a “big mistake,” but said at the same time that Netanyahu’s cabinet had caused “an unprecedented diplomatic isolation” for Israel.
The West Bank is part of the occupied Palestinian territories, and Israeli settlement building there is one of the main sources of tension in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The two-state solution refers to the creation of two independent states, Palestine and Israel, based on disputed borders.
