UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has warned that continued Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank could undermine hopes for a future Palestinian state, saying Britain had to speak out before it became “too late” to preserve a two-state solution.
Speaking to the BBC, Miliband said the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel was “being destroyed by the facts on the ground”. His comments came after the UK announced plans to ban imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Miliband told Parliament that the UK was taking action because of growing concerns over settlement expansion and violence by Israeli settlers. He also accused “settler terrorists” of carrying out what he described as “ethnic cleansing”, arguing that the Israeli government had failed to prevent such actions.
The UK government’s position has drawn a strong response from Israel. Within hours of Miliband’s parliamentary statement, Israel announced several measures against Britain, including plans to close the UK consulate in Jerusalem within 30 days.
Israel has also barred 11 British MPs from entering the country. Those affected include Zarah Sultana, Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott.
Miliband rejected suggestions that British sanctions could contribute to increased antisemitism against Jewish people in the UK. He argued that criticism of Israeli government policies should not be confused with hostility towards Jewish communities.
The dispute marks another deterioration in relations between Britain and Israel as international pressure continues over developments in the West Bank. The UK says its measures are intended to protect the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution, while Israel has strongly opposed what it considers unfair international pressure over its settlement policies.
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