By Safina khan/ LONDON: Prime Minister Andy Burnham has defended the UK Government’s decision to impose targeted sanctions linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying Britain must remain prepared to stand up for its principles and support efforts towards peace.
Burnham said the measures were directed at individuals and businesses connected to the settlements rather than at the Israeli people, stressing that the Government’s objective was to protect the prospects of a two-state solution and peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.
The UK Government has accused Israel of failing to prevent what it describes as the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians, while the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains a major concern.
Under the new measures, Britain will prohibit imports from illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and impose sanctions on individuals and companies providing services to settlers.
The move has triggered a diplomatic dispute, with both Israel and the United States criticising the UK’s position. Israel has responded with countermeasures following Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband’s announcement of the sanctions, which form part of the Labour Government’s broader reassessment of its approach to Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.
Burnham said Britain had a responsibility to demonstrate leadership amid growing international instability.
“In an increasingly volatile world, Britain must be willing to lead,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the British public and international partners expected the UK to defend its values.
He described the Palestinian humanitarian crisis as a matter of global concern, highlighting the continuing deaths of civilians, including children, in Gaza and the limited flow of humanitarian assistance.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the Government now considers the occupation of the West Bank as a whole to be unlawful, representing a shift from the previous position that focused specifically on the illegality of Israeli settlements.
Miliband also said there was growing evidence suggesting Israel had committed war crimes in Gaza, adding further weight to the Government’s increasingly critical stance towards the Israeli government.
