Britain has announced tougher measures against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, escalating its criticism of Israel’s settlement policy and the violence associated with extremist settlers. The move comes as international concern grows over the future of the Palestinian territories and the increasingly difficult prospects for a negotiated two-state solution.
The British government’s latest action includes plans to restrict trade involving goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The measures represent a significant shift in pressure from London, which has repeatedly warned that settlement expansion threatens the territorial continuity needed for a viable Palestinian state.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has also sharply criticised the conduct of extremist settlers, accusing them of using intimidation and violence to force Palestinians from their land. In the language reported by the BBC, Miliband described the displacement as part of what he characterised as “ethnic cleansing,” reflecting the seriousness of Britain’s concerns about developments in the West Bank.
The British government has previously imposed sanctions on individuals and organisations accused of financing or facilitating settler violence. In June, Britain coordinated with Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand and Norway on sanctions targeting networks linked to attacks against Palestinian civilians. The government said such violence was contributing to the displacement of Palestinian communities and undermining prospects for peace.
Britain’s latest position is also closely connected to growing opposition to Israel’s planned expansion of settlements, particularly the controversial E1 development near Jerusalem. London has warned that construction in the area could effectively divide the West Bank and separate it from East Jerusalem, making the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state more difficult.
The issue has become increasingly sensitive as violence in the West Bank has intensified. Recent clashes involving Israeli settlers and Palestinians have resulted in deaths and injuries, while reports of land seizures, destruction of property and the establishment of unauthorised outposts have added to fears of further displacement. Reuters reported renewed violence in several West Bank communities this week.
Israel and its supporters have strongly opposed international efforts to impose penalties over settlement activity, while Israeli officials have argued that security concerns and attacks against Israelis must also be considered. The British measures are therefore likely to add another layer of tension to relations between London and the Israeli government.
For Britain, however, the issue extends beyond trade. The government says settlement expansion threatens a political solution that would allow Israelis and Palestinians to live alongside each other in secure, recognised states. Its position is that continued settlement construction and settler violence make that objective increasingly difficult to achieve.
The new measures consequently place Britain among a growing group of Western governments taking stronger action over settlement activity. Whether the sanctions will change Israeli policy remains uncertain, but they underline the increasing international pressure over the future of the West Bank and the rights of Palestinians living there.