UK government expected to announce restrictions on trade with West Bank settlements

UK government expected to announce restrictions on trade with West Bank settlements Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is expected to outline the measures in the Commons on Tuesday, which could see restrictions on commercial trade in agricultural products from settlements. Last week Miliband said he would unveil a "comprehensive reset" of the British government's policy on Israel. The Israeli authorities have previously warned they would retaliate if any such measures were introduced. Settlements are illegal under international law, and recent months have seen a rise in violence towards Palestinians in the West Bank by settlers. One curate told the BBC: "The connection volition beryllium a implicit reset of the quality of our Israel-Palestine relationship. It volition each consciousness precise different." "It is not conscionable astir sanctions. We anticipation that this volition yet execute what those of america who person been moving towards for 2 years implicit the Middle East person been moving on." BBC News has not seen the full details of the measures. Labour MPs who have been briefed on the plans believe the sanctions will target trade with illegal settlements. They believe that means the sanctions would cover some goods and services. Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed to Labour MPs at their weekly parliamentary gathering on Monday night that Miliband would be making the statement, according to a number of MPs present. The prime minister is also said to have told the gathering that he had briefed international leaders about plans in telephone calls on Monday afternoon. Burnham spoke to US President Donald Trump on the telephone on Monday, during which the prime minister stressed the value of a two‑state solution in the Middle East. An official record of the call released by No 10 did not specify that Burnham had briefed Trump on the sanctions; the US, which is likely to strongly oppose the proposals, has not commented. Speaking in July, Stephen Doughty – who was formerly Europe minister but has since been appointed Middle East minister – told the select committee that existing powers to enforce restrictions on settlements did not go far enough. He said: "At the moment, we tin authorisation wherever determination is grounds of it being linked to settler violence, but not, for example, successful narration to a contractor moving connected the settlements. We request to grow our sanctions powers." While ministers are said to recognise that banning a comparatively tiny quantity of mostly agricultural products is largely a symbolic gesture, the government is expected to frame this announcement as a major reset in Britain's wider policy on Israel. The expected announcement by the UK government comes after Israel opened tenders for the construction of some 1,200 settlement homes in the so‑called E1 area – a strategically important area east of Jerusalem. The plans have drawn widespread international condemnation. Israel has held back on building in the area for decades under international pressure.