UK will impose new trade restrictions on Israeli West Bank settlements

The UK government will announce measures that could bar imports of goods and services produced in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that the BBC reports could meet diplomatic backlash.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is expected to outline the proposals in the Commons on Tuesday. The policies would focus on blocking trade in agricultural products and other items linked to settlements, with the government describing the step as part of a broader “comprehensive reset” of its Israel‑Palestine policy.

Settlements are illegal under international law and recent activity has seen a surge in settler‑led violence against Palestinians. The new sanctions aim to curb that spread and signal support for a two‑state outcome.

The announcement follows Israel’s recent tender for the construction of about 1,200 homes in the E1 area east of Jerusalem – a region seen as a strategic stepping‑stone for larger settlement schemes. The move, rejected by many in the international community, has heightened tensions in the region.

Israel warned that it would retaliate against any new UK measures, a threat that the government has countered by citing the need to uphold human rights and international law. The UK’s actions could have wider trade implications, affecting businesses on both sides of the Mediterranean.

The policy aligns with recent UK statements recognising a Palestinian state and emphasising the moral imperatives that “compel” involvement in ensuring a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.