The United Kingdom has announced a new sanctions regime targeting illegal settlements and their expansion in the West Bank, a move that has prompted a strong reaction from Israel, including the closure of the UK's consulate in Jerusalem. The sanctions, launched in conjunction with France and Canada, are intended to bolster the two-state solution.
The British government officially recognizes that settlements are illegal under international law, and has noted a recent increase in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband stated that settlers are carrying out the "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians in certain areas of the West Bank, asserting that the Israeli government has often overlooked or even supported the forced displacement of Palestinians.
Miliband defined ethnic cleansing according to UN parameters as a deliberate policy by one group to violently remove another from specific areas. He further articulated the UK's position that the Israeli occupation of the West Bank is unlawful due to the entrenchment of control, intent for permanent sovereignty, and expansionist policies facilitated by illegal settlements.
As a result of this policy shift, the UK will implement a comprehensive sanctions regime over the next six to nine months, targeting illegal settlements and their expansion, explicitly stating that the measures are not aimed at Israel itself. Additionally, the UK will prohibit the advertising of illegal West Bank settlements within the country.
In response to the UK's actions, Israel announced the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem. An Israeli representative stated that the decision was a response to what they characterized as hostile actions by a "hostile Labour government," while also expressing awareness of many British friends. Furthermore, Israel declared it would ban 11 UK Members of Parliament, including Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, and all five Green Party MPs, from entering the country, citing accusations of "antisemitic and anti-Israel activity."
The UK's initiative was supported by a joint statement from 11 other countries: France, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, and Sweden. This group reiterated its commitment to the two-state solution and indicated intentions to enact national measures or support European restrictions on trade with West Bank settlements. The measures reflect a growing international consensus on the illegality of settlements and the need for action to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.