To loud applause at the Labour Party’s annual conference, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband unveiled a series of economic measures Monday aimed at cutting ties between Britain and Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. He announced his government will move to halt imports of products and block British money, construction materials, and services from reaching the communities.
1+“We will stop all imports of products from illegal settlements,” Miliband said, adding that Britain will also act against what he called the “supply lines” of British financing, construction, and services to the communities.
Miliband didn’t stop at economic measures. He made clear his government intends to act against what it sees as attempts to derail a two-state solution. “This party, this movement, this government says: we will not let you succeed,” he declared.
1+Miliband framed the measures as part of a shift in Labour’s approach to Israel and the ‘Palestinians’, saying the party’s previous policy “wasn’t enough” and that it now intends to “match words with actions.”
That line has already played out in recent months with British opposition to the E1 project in Judea and Samaria. In August, Miliband condemned the tender for the project and summoned the official in charge of Israel’s embassy in London for a clarification meeting.