Miliband must acknowledge shortcomings of Labour’s position on Palestine — The Guardian
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is expected to state at the Labour Party conference that the political force’s previous approach to the situation of Palestinians was insufficient. He also plans to announce a ban on imports of goods from Israeli settlements, which he will describe as illegal in his speech.
As The Guardian reports, Miliband will address activists and party members who raised the issue of the situation of Palestinians. According to him, under Andy Burnham’s leadership, the party revised its approach to the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
Restrictions on settlements
In his planned speech, Miliband is expected to say that the United Kingdom will ban imports of goods from Israeli settlements. He will also state his intention to prevent British finance, construction and service providers from being used to support the settlements.
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According to the publication, after Britain introduced extensive sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements, 12 countries, including France and Canada, also announced sanctions. Miliband is expected to describe these restrictions as a defining change in Labour’s approach to the situation in the Middle East.
New foreign policy
The minister also plans to say that the government will pursue a more clearly progressive foreign policy and seek to be a leader among like-minded countries. According to The Guardian, he will describe cooperation on sanctions as the beginning of a new partnership with France, Canada and other states.
A source close to Miliband told the publication that Britain’s ability to build coalitions on important global issues depends on its capacity to bring other countries on board. Miliband is also expected to pay tribute to campaigns against Israel’s military operation in Gaza. The publication notes that this could raise the question of a possible review of Palestine Action’s designation as a banned organisation; on Sunday, police detained several demonstrators near the conference venue.
