Britain is preparing new sanctions against Israelis over the expansion of settlements
The United Kingdom is preparing new targeted sanctions against Israelis involved in the “illegal expansion of settlements” in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. This was stated by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, according to a government announcement.
He said that London does not intend to “stand by and accept the destruction of the two-state solution” after the Israeli government announced a tender for the construction of 1,200 homes in the E1 area of the West Bank.
“The United Kingdom condemns the Israeli government’s announcement of a tender for the E1 settlement project,” the British government’s statement reads.
Miliband noted that development of the E1 area could sever the West Bank from East Jerusalem, jeopardizing the two-state solution. He added that the expansion of settlements also violates international law.
The British minister said he had made it clear to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar that plans for E1 must be halted immediately, the tender withdrawn, and settlement expansion stopped.
In addition, the British Foreign Office summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires.
Miliband added that in the coming weeks, London will announce a package of measures in response to the Israeli government’s policies.
Source: UK government
Earlier, Israel threatened the Palestinian Authority with a full-scale war.
