https://arab.news/nyc7t
- Political and civil society leaders urge total ban on imports from illegal settlements
LONDON: The British government is coming under increasing pressure to outline the 鈥渕eaningful consequences鈥� it will enact in response to Israel鈥檚 planned annexation of parts of the West Bank.
Lisa Nandy, the opposition Labour Party鈥檚 foreign secretary, said the UK must ban imports of goods from illegal settlements if Israel moves forward with its plans.
The move, she said, would be a 鈥渕ajor step鈥� and require 鈥渃ourage that so far ministers have not been willing to show,鈥� but 鈥渟uch a blatant breach of international law must have consequences.鈥�
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will 鈥渁pply sovereignty鈥� to 30 percent of the occupied West Bank as early as Wednesday, in a move widely seen as the final nail in the coffin for any future Palestinian state.
Lisa Nandy has called Israeli annexation of the West Bank a 鈥渟hameful proposition.鈥� (AFP/File)
In an interview with The Observer, Nandy said the proposal, 鈥渋s an illegal act which will undermine the prospect of a peaceful two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, and has serious implications for the stability of the Middle East.
鈥淚t is a shameful proposition to which the UK cannot be a silent witness,鈥� she added.
She urged 鈥渃oncrete action,鈥� including 鈥渁 ban on goods entering Britain from the illegal settlements of the West Bank.鈥�
Civil society groups have also implored the British government to take meaningful steps against Israel.
A Christian Aid spokesperson said the UK should formally recognise the state of Palestine and 鈥渆nd all trade with illegal settlements鈥� in response to annexation.
A coalition of UK-based humanitarian, religious, development and human rights organisations will issue a statement Monday urging the government to outline 鈥渃learly and publicly, what actual, meaningful consequences will result if Israel proceeds with its illegal annexation plans.鈥�
Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this month 鈥渟trongly objected鈥� to Israel鈥檚 plan and restated support for the two-state solution, but has thus far failed to outline clearly the steps the government will take in response to it.
Earlier this month, 萝莉视频鈥檚 Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan described the Israeli plan as a 鈥渄angerous escalation.鈥�
Last week the UN and the Arab League called on Israel to drop the plan.