UK to announce new measures targeting Israeli settlement expansion within weeks, Miliband confirms

Ed Miliband has confirmed that the UK will announce new measures aimed at targeting illegal Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank “within weeks”.

In a statement, the Foreign Secretary described the Israeli Government’s publication of a tender for the E1 West Bank settlement project as “an unacceptable and destructive act”.

Responding to the news that Israel has opened up tenders for the construction of some 1,200 settlement homes on the so-called E1 area east of Jerusalem, Miliband said the plans “would cut across the heart of Palestine and risk separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem, which would endanger the viability of a two-state solution.”

He then confirmed: “In the coming weeks we will set out a comprehensive set of measures to respond to Israeli government policies, protect the viability of the Palestinian state, target sanctions at those who participate in illegal settlement expansion and support a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.”

Miliband said the UK has been clear privately and publicly in our opposition to E1 and that he had spoken with the Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, insisting the Israeli Government must halt E1 plans immediately, retract the tender and stop all settlement expansion.

A statement also confirmed the Israeli Chargé d’Affaires has been summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, “where we set out the UK’s profound objection to this move by the Netanyahu government and demanded an immediate reversal.”

“The impact of settler violence and terrorism has been catastrophic for Palestinian communities. Settlement expansion and attempts to create irreversible divisions on the ground threaten peace, security and the prospects for a viable Palestinian state,” added Miliband.

“Britain will not stand back and accept the destruction of the Two-State Solution.”