UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is expected to announce a ban on trade in goods and some services from illegal Israeli settlements as part of a broad reset of relations with Israel, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Ed Miliband is set to announce a reset of UK-Israel relations on Tuesday.
- The UK will impose a ban on trade in goods and some services from illegal Israeli settlements.
- Miliband will reassert support for Palestinian rights and a two-state solution.
- The move is expected to draw fierce criticism from the US and Israel.
Ed Miliband, the UK foreign secretary, is set to announce what he has described as a broad reset of the UK’s relations with Israel, according to the Guardian. The intervention, expected on Tuesday, promises that the government will take a more active approach in supporting the Palestinian cause.
At the centre of the announcement is a UK ban on the trade in goods and some services from illegal Israeli settlements. The Guardian reports that the measure forms part of a wider shift in the government’s posture toward the conflict.
Miliband has also told civil society groups that he is determined to reassert the call for a two-state solution, coupling that appeal with a call for the protection of Palestinian rights and respect for international law, according to the Guardian.
The Guardian reports that the move is likely to draw fierce criticism from both the US and Israel. The report does not detail the specific reaction from either government or the timeline for implementing the trade ban.
Beyond the trade measure and the reaffirmation of a two-state solution, the sources do not provide further specifics on the scope of the goods and services covered or how the reset will be carried out.
Why it matters
A UK trade ban targeting illegal Israeli settlements marks a notable hardening of London's stance and could strain relations with key allies. The move signals a shift in Britain's diplomatic approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with potential implications for trade and international policy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK planning to ban?
According to the Guardian, the UK plans to impose a ban on the trade in goods and some services from illegal Israeli settlements.
Who is announcing the policy?
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is set to announce the measure, which he has described as a broad reset of the UK's relations with Israel, according to the Guardian.
What reaction is expected?
The Guardian reports the move is expected to draw fierce criticism from the US and Israel.