UK prepares sanctions against Israel over illegal settlement expansion

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced that the UK government is preparing new targeted sanctions against Israelis involved in what he called the illegal expansion of settlements in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Miliband said Britain would not stand aside and accept the destruction of the two-state concept, after Israel's government announced a tender to build 1,200 homes in settlements in the strategically significant so-called E1 zone in the West Bank.

E1 zone seen as a major risk

According to Miliband, the E1 zone would cut through the heart of Palestinian territory and risk separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem, undermining the prospects for a two-state solution. He described the Israeli government's actions as unacceptable and destructive.

Miliband said he had appealed to his Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, asking him to immediately halt the E1 plans and cancel the tender. He added that he had summoned Israel's top diplomat in Britain to the Foreign Office to clearly convey these demands.

The minister said Britain would unveil a package of measures in the coming weeks in response to the Israeli government's policy.

EU context

It was previously reported that the European Commission is proposing measures to reduce imports from illegal Israeli settlements, including a possible full ban on such imports. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot had earlier accused the European Commission of insufficient action on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.