UK announces ban on West Bank settlement produce amid rising tensions
Britain will prohibit imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move supported by Palestinians but condemned by Israel’s foreign minister, as both sides brace for economic repercussions.
Britain said it will bar the import of products originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, joining a dozen European nations that have announced similar restrictions. The decision is part of a broader policy shift that the UK says aligns with the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion that Israel’s ongoing occupation is unlawful.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Parliament that “settler terrorism is rampant” and that the British public does not want to support the occupation by buying settlement-origin goods. He added that the ban should be reflected in the economic relationships the UK maintains with the territories.
Israeli officials described the measure as “hostile.” The foreign minister announced counter-measures, including the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem. Israeli settler date farmer Avigdor Arbel, who exports Medjool dates to Europe, the United States and India, said the sector would seek alternative markets if European sales were blocked.
Palestinian growers, who face water shortages and restrictions on movement, welcomed the ban. Abdul Halim Abu Omar, a farmer in al-Ouja, said his trees have received less than a third of the water they need, and his limited harvest is being sold through exporter Momen Sinokrot to several European countries, including the UK. Sinokrot argued that broader bans could curb settlement expansion.
Human-rights groups note that settlement outposts, which are illegal under both international and Israeli law, have multiplied in the Jordan Valley, and that violence against Palestinians has risen to what the United Nations calls an “all-time high.” A recent report by Global Echo warned that some settlement produce is mislabeled as Israeli, and that a UK ban would increase the cost of such fraud, making compliance more likely.
The ban is expected to strain UK-Israel relations, following similar actions by countries such as Ireland, Spain and Belgium, and comes amid ongoing disputes over water access and land use in the Jordan Valley.