UK and Other Countries Ban West Bank Settlement Goods
Twelve countries including Britain, Canada and France announced sanctions Tuesday. Britain announced its own ban on settlement goods.
France and Canada also promised national bans. Britain and France will join 10 other countries banning these goods.
Several European countries had already acted. The measures target settlement goods and services not all trade with Israel.
Britain's rules may take six to nine months to start. The sanctions followed growing settler attacks on Palestinian villages.
The UK accused Israeli settlers of ethnic cleansing with government backing. The UK also said Israel ignored violence by extremist settlers.
Foreign Minister Ed Miliband said Britain must now act. He said Britain could no longer just criticize.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the UK was working against Israel. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Britain chose the wrong side of history.
UK opposition politicians and a US ambassador also criticized the measures. In response Israel plans to close the UK's consulate in East Jerusalem.
Key Terms 4
- West Bank An occupied Palestinian territory near Israel.
- settlements Israeli communities built in the occupied West Bank.
- consulate An office where a country represents its citizens abroad.
- ethnic cleansing Forcing a group of people out of an area.