Exclusive: UK sanctions on Israeli settlements to include those in Syria's Golan Heights
Middle East Eye
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Middle East Eye
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The UK's new sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements include those in the occupied Golan Heights as well as Palestinian territories, according to government sources. The comprehensive measures announced by London on Thursday will cover Israeli settlements across the Golan, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank.
The UK's new sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements include those in the occupied Golan Heights as well as in occupied Palestinian territory, Middle East Eye understands.
On Tuesday, the British government declared the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and announced comprehensive sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements.
However, the announced measures did not clarify whether Israeli settlements in the occupied Golan Heights in Syria would be affected by the sanctions, leading campaigners to call for the ban to be extended.
Government sources confirmed to MEE on Thursday night that Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights and in East Jerusalem will be covered by the UK's new measures, as well as those in the occupied West Bank.
A strategic plateau straddling Israel and Syria and overlooking southern Lebanon, the Golan Heights was occupied by Israel in 1967 and annexed in a move which has never been recognised by the international community.
UN Resolution 242 calls for Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights and other occupied territories, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Some 20,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the Golan, alongside about 26,000 of the territory’s native inhabitants, who are predominantly Druze and identify as Syrian.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced: "I do not believe the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops and supermarkets, so I can announce today that we will introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories."
The foreign secretary said there would be "a new comprehensive sanctions regime… with appropriate religious exemptions".
He added: "We will take action against specific companies and individuals who provide services such as construction, infrastructure financing or real estate for settlement expansion.
"So to those who finance or facilitate illegal settlements, let me say this: you will face the full force of UK sanctions. Settlements are illegal. They should not be promoted in our country."
Eleven other countries - Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden - signed a joint statement with Britain, published on Tuesday, saying they "confirm their intention to introduce national and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods with settlements which are illegal under international law, or that they are actively considering these and other measures, in accordance with their national procedures".
On Tuesday, the British government declared the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and announced comprehensive sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements.
However, the announced measures did not clarify whether Israeli settlements in the occupied Golan Heights in Syria would be affected by the sanctions, leading campaigners to call for the ban to be extended.
Government sources confirmed to MEE on Thursday night that Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights and in East Jerusalem will be covered by the UK's new measures, as well as those in the occupied West Bank.
A strategic plateau straddling Israel and Syria and overlooking southern Lebanon, the Golan Heights was occupied by Israel in 1967 and annexed in a move which has never been recognised by the international community.
UN Resolution 242 calls for Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights and other occupied territories, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Some 20,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the Golan, alongside about 26,000 of the territory’s native inhabitants, who are predominantly Druze and identify as Syrian.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced: "I do not believe the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops and supermarkets, so I can announce today that we will introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories."
The foreign secretary said there would be "a new comprehensive sanctions regime… with appropriate religious exemptions".
He added: "We will take action against specific companies and individuals who provide services such as construction, infrastructure financing or real estate for settlement expansion.
"So to those who finance or facilitate illegal settlements, let me say this: you will face the full force of UK sanctions. Settlements are illegal. They should not be promoted in our country."
Eleven other countries - Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden - signed a joint statement with Britain, published on Tuesday, saying they "confirm their intention to introduce national and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods with settlements which are illegal under international law, or that they are actively considering these and other measures, in accordance with their national procedures".
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Tags:#بريطانيا#إسرائيل#المستوطنات#الجولان#عقوبات#الأراضي المحتلة
Source: Middle East Eye
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