Lawyers urge UK to tighten sanctions against Israeli settlements
In the United Kingdom, more than 130 lawyers and legal scholars have called on the government to strengthen sanctions against Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory. In a letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, they stated that the previously announced restrictions, in their view, do not meet the country’s obligations under international law to counter Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory. This was reported by Anadolu Agency.
Demands of the letter’s authors
The authors of the appeal welcomed Britain’s decision to act together with its allies but described the measures introduced as insufficient. They called for sanctions to be extended to insurance and accounting services, as well as digital infrastructure.
The lawyers also asked the government to publicly confirm that no British public body, pension scheme or sovereign fund has investments in settlements. A separate demand is a full embargo on arms supplies to Israel.
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Measures announced by Britain
Last week, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a ban on imports from settlements, which the source describes as illegal, sanctions against companies and individuals facilitating the expansion of settlements, as well as additional sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers accused of supporting or inciting violence against Palestinians.
University College London professor of international law Ralph Wilde said that, in his view, the illegality of the occupation creates broader legal obligations for Britain and other states than the announced measures against settlements and settlers. SOAS law professor Nimer Sultany described the occupation as part of a practice rather than an incidental consequence.
