Yvette Cooper announces new UK sanctions on entities linked to West Bank settler violence
Foreign Secretary to tell the Commons 'The UK is leading with our partners to target those who are fuelling this violence'
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will announce that the UK is imposing sanctions on six entities and one individual accused of financing, enabling, and perpetrating settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
The entities and individual named by the Foreign Office as targets of these sanctions are: The Farms Association, Ahavat Gilad, Ari Yshag, Artzenu, Shivat Zion Lerigvey Admata, Eyal Hari Yehuda, and Itamar Yehuda Levi.
They will face asset freezes, and where appropriate, travel bans and director disqualifications.
The sanctions are intended to disrupt the financial networks that have enabled extremist settler groups to operate with impunity in the West Bank and to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to achieving a two-state solution.
These measures come amid ongoing illegal settlement expansion—including the E1 project—which further erodes the viability of a two-state solution, and record levels of settler violence intentionally aimed at destroying Palestinian homes and livelihoods in the West Bank.
In her statement to Parliament on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to say: “Today we are acting with our international partners to sanction those who support and sponsor violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
“Settler expansion and violence is illegal and a fundamental threat to the viability of a two-state solution, and to long-term peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis.
“These measures show the UK is leading with our partners to target those who are fuelling this violence.”
The UK is acting in coordination with Canada, France, and Norway in imposing these sanctions, while Australia and New Zealand announced similar measures last week.
For the first time, the Foreign Secretary has announced that official UK guidance will explicitly advise businesses against any economic or financial activity in illegal settlements.
The FCDO reaffirmed the UK’s support for trade with Israel within the 1967 borders but made clear that there should be no business involvement in illegal settlements.
The UK continues to urge the Government of Israel to end settlement expansion, take action against settler violence, hold perpetrators accountable, and lift restrictions on the Palestinian economy.
The UK warned that it will not hesitate to take further action if there is no improvement in the situation.
The Farms Association is sanctioned for providing financial and organisational support to Israeli settler farms and outposts in the West Bank, including those associated with violence, intimidation and forced displacement of Palestinians
Ahavat Gilad has been sanctioned for allegedly acting as a financial conduit for The Farms Association, channeling donations to settler outposts implicated in violence against Palestinians.
Ari Yshag is accused of fundraising for illegal settler outposts associated with violence, intimidation, and the forced displacement of Palestinians.
Artzenu has been sanctioned for promoting, financing, and equipping settler farms and outposts involved in violence against Palestinians, including fundraising for tactical military equipment for armed settler groups. Shivat Zion Lerigvey Admata, as the registered legal entity for Artzenu’s financial activities, channels donations to outposts linked to serious human rights abuses.
Eyal Hari Yehuda, a construction and demolition company, is accused of enabling its owners, staff, associates, and family members to use company resources in the West Bank to destroy Palestinian land and property, and to physically attack, shoot, and kill Palestinians while working on construction and demolition jobs.
Itamar Yehuda Levi, owner of Eyal Hari Yehuda, is sanctioned for his role in facilitating the use of company resources to destroy Palestinian land and property during construction and demolition jobs in the West Bank.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
