2 hrs ago
Miliband Threatens West Bank Sanctions as Israel Warns Britain
Britain says some Israeli settlers are attacking Palestinians in the West Bank.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain may take stronger steps against settlement activity.
He also criticized a plan to build more than 1,200 homes in an area that could divide the West Bank.
Britain says this could make it harder to create a future Palestinian state.
Israel’s foreign minister warned that Israel would respond if Britain acted against it.
He also accused Britain of interfering in Israel’s election.
Britain had already placed sanctions on six organizations and one person connected to settler violence.
The disagreement comes as settlers are accused of attacking Palestinian homes, land, crops and religious sites.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband condemned settler violence and promised a comprehensive reset of Britain’s policy toward Israel and the occupied West Bank.
Miliband said Britain would consider measures against settlement activity and prevent British companies from financing, building or advertising new settlements.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned that Israel would respond if Britain took action against the country and accused London of meddling in its election.
Miliband called Israel’s E1 development plan, including more than 1,200 approved settler homes, a threat to the viability of a Palestinian state.
The dispute follows Britain’s June sanctions against six entities and one person linked to settler violence, while attacks against Palestinians and mosques continue.
- Who
- British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar are the principal officials involved; Israeli settlers and Palestinians are central to the underlying dispute.
- What
- Britain is considering stronger measures over Israeli settler violence and settlement expansion in the West Bank, while Israel has warned of retaliation.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the occupied West Bank and relations between Britain and Israel.
- When
- The statements were made on Tuesday; Britain’s previous sanctions were announced in June.
- Why
- Miliband said settler violence and the E1 development plan threaten Palestinians and the possibility of a two-state solution; Israel objected to potential British action and accused London of meddling in its election.
British Government Position
Israeli Government Position
Settler violence
British Government Position
Britain says attacks by extremist settlers against Palestinians are appalling and require stronger action.
Israeli Government Position
Israel has not accepted Britain’s proposed measures; Saar warned that action against Israel would trigger an Israeli response.
Settlement expansion
British Government Position
Miliband says the E1 plan crosses a red line, could divide the West Bank and risk making a Palestinian state unviable.
Israeli Government Position
Israel has advanced the E1 project and has opposed foreign governments distinguishing between Israel and West Bank settlement goods.
Bilateral relations
British Government Position
Britain says it does not want its companies financing, constructing or advertising new settlements and is reviewing its wider economic relationship with the occupied territories.
Israeli Government Position
Saar accused London of meddling in Israel’s October 27 election and said Britain would be making a mistake by acting against Israel.
Key facts
- British proposal
- Miliband said Britain would set out a comprehensive set of measures in the coming weeks and review its wider economic relationship with the occupied territories.
- Previous British sanctions
- In June, Britain sanctioned six entities and one person linked to financing, enabling or carrying out settler violence.
- E1 development plan
- Israel approved more than 1,200 settler homes under the plan last year and recently proceeded with tenders.
- West Bank population
- More than 500,000 Israelis and about three million Palestinians live in the West Bank, according to the article.
- Israeli warning
- Gideon Saar said Israel would act against Britain if Britain acted against Israel.
- Mosque incidents
- The Palestinian ministry of religious affairs said Tuesday’s attempted mosque arson was the 13th mosque desecration in the West Bank this year.
- Settlement status
- Settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law.
Quotes
Ed Miliband
Britain’s Foreign Secretary
“This government will not acquiesce in the destruction of the two-state solution. We will act, and I will set out a comprehensive set of measures in the coming weeks,”
easterneye.biz
“If Britain acts against the State of Israel, the State of Israel will act against Britain.”
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Sources
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