UK Warns Against Participation in West Bank Settlement Project, Threatens Sanctions
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Britain has urged companies and individuals to refrain from participating in the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank, warning of potential sanctions for involvement in illegal construction. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband highlighted new powers to penalize those contributing to settlements. The E1 plan is criticized for fragmenting Palestinian territories and potentially hindering peace. Separately, Britain condemned settler violence against diplomats and journalists in the West Bank, calling on Israel to ensure accountability.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Britain warned companies and individuals against participating in the E1 settlement project in the West Bank.
- The UK threatened sanctions against those involved in building illegal settlements like the E1 plan.
- The E1 plan is seen as potentially undermining future peace agreements by fragmenting Palestinian territories.
- Britain also condemned settler attacks on diplomats and journalists in the West Bank.
- The UK called on Israel to ensure the rule of law and bring perpetrators of crimes to justice.
Britain urged companies and individuals on Monday not to participate in the E1 settlement plan in the occupied West Bank, warning that those involved in building illegal settlements could face sanctions. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated in a release, "We call on companies and individuals not to submit their bids in the E1 project tender. They must be aware of the legal consequences and damage to their reputation, including the risk of involvement in serious violations of international law." He added, "I want to be clear to those considering participating in the tender: we have established new powers that allow us to impose sanctions on individuals and companies involved in constructing illegal settlements, such as the E1 project." The E1 plan would divide the West Bank and isolate it from East Jerusalem, leading to the fragmentation of Palestinian territories. Many Western countries and organizations have opposed the settlement plan due to concerns that it could undermine any future peace agreement with the Palestinians.
In a separate development, Britain declared that settler attacks on diplomats and journalists in the occupied West Bank are "completely unacceptable" and stressed the need to "put an end to their terror." This statement came in a post by Minister of State for the Middle East Steven Doughty on the X platform, commenting on attacks targeting Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine and European diplomats from France, Belgium, and Poland. Doughty affirmed that Palestinians are subjected to violence without accountability, adding, "As the occupying power, Israel must ensure the rule of law and bring perpetrators of crimes to justice." The British Foreign Secretary had also previously condemned the escalation of Israeli settler terrorism in the West Bank.
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