London, Sept. 10 (SANA) British Prime Minister Andy Burnham welcomed his country’s decision to ban imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, along with the introduction of a comprehensive sanctions system, saying Britain must stand with justice against injustice.
The BBC quoted Burnham as saying Thursday that “when people are forced from their homes under pressure, we will always stand alongside the weaker party.”
Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, for his part, said the measures were introduced following concerns over the planned development of the E1 settlement project, which he said would isolate the occupied West Bank from East Jerusalem and divide the area.
Speaking before the House of Commons, Miliband said the UK government considers that ethnic cleansing has occurred in parts of the West Bank, accusing settlers of forcing Palestinians from their lands and saying Israel has “often turned a blind eye” to such actions.
The sanctions will target companies and individuals providing services linked to settlement activity, including construction and financing. The United Kingdom will also prohibit advertising for illegal settlements, with implementation of the measures expected to take nine months.
The British government announced the measures earlier this week as part of what it described as efforts to address settlement expansion and violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Canada and France have also introduced restrictions on goods produced in Israeli settlements as part of coordinated measures with allies.
FJ/MZ
