UK to ban imports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Parliament on Tuesday that the United Kingdom would impose an import ban on goods produced in Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law, describing the policy as a response to what he called “ethnic cleansing” by settlers in the West Bank. The announcement, which Miliband said was coordinated with several other nations, marks a formal step by the UK to restrict trade with areas it identifies as occupied territories, aligning with broader diplomatic pressure on Israel regarding settlement activity.

Jerusalem‑based ABC correspondent Jordana Miller told France 24 that the ban signals Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempt to curb the influence of far‑right elements within his coalition, which have overseen the expansion of settlements. The measure adds to a growing international effort to address settlement‑related concerns, and its implementation will test the effectiveness of coordinated trade restrictions as a tool of foreign policy.