British Parliamentarians Urge Sanctions on Israel Amid Ongoing Violence
A coalition of 96 MPs calls for targeted sanctions and a trade ban in response to escalating violence against Palestinians.
LONDON: In a significant move, a coalition of 96 British parliamentarians has issued a formal letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, advocating for the imposition of sanctions on Israel.
This initiative highlights urgent concerns regarding the ongoing violence against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, an issue that has garnered increasing calls for diplomatic action from within the UK parliament.
The letters propose targeted sanctions against Israeli officials and entities, specifically requesting a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements and a suspension of the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement.
This agreement, which emphasizes the importance of human rights, is called into question due to Israel's reported violations, asserting that the UK has the legal grounds to terminate its provisions if these violations persist.
The parliamentarians, representing a diverse array of political perspectives, have voiced their alarm over rising Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, indicating that recent government measures to sanction specific settler organizations have been inadequate in addressing the broader context of systemic human rights abuses.
They argue that the UK risks complicity in these violations through ongoing diplomatic and economic ties with Israeli institutions and settler groups.
In their appeal, the signatories underscore the necessity for a comprehensive approach to sanctions, moving beyond individual measures against settlers to include actions against higher state officials and ministers.
They assert that such measures align with international law as defined by bodies like the International Court of Justice and the United Nations, which categorize settlement activities in occupied territories as illegal.
Joseph Willits, head of parliamentary affairs at the Council for Arab-British Understanding, remarked on the increasing parliamentary momentum behind tougher UK actions towards Israel.
He emphasized that as the situation for Palestinians deteriorates, characterized by allegations of genocide and ethnic cleansing, there is a growing expectation that the UK government will take stronger positions consistent with the humanitarian concerns raised by both parliamentarians and the public.
The letter serves as a reflection of this sentiment and calls for an urgent examination of the UK’s policy towards Israel.
This initiative highlights urgent concerns regarding the ongoing violence against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, an issue that has garnered increasing calls for diplomatic action from within the UK parliament.
The letters propose targeted sanctions against Israeli officials and entities, specifically requesting a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements and a suspension of the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement.
This agreement, which emphasizes the importance of human rights, is called into question due to Israel's reported violations, asserting that the UK has the legal grounds to terminate its provisions if these violations persist.
The parliamentarians, representing a diverse array of political perspectives, have voiced their alarm over rising Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, indicating that recent government measures to sanction specific settler organizations have been inadequate in addressing the broader context of systemic human rights abuses.
They argue that the UK risks complicity in these violations through ongoing diplomatic and economic ties with Israeli institutions and settler groups.
In their appeal, the signatories underscore the necessity for a comprehensive approach to sanctions, moving beyond individual measures against settlers to include actions against higher state officials and ministers.
They assert that such measures align with international law as defined by bodies like the International Court of Justice and the United Nations, which categorize settlement activities in occupied territories as illegal.
Joseph Willits, head of parliamentary affairs at the Council for Arab-British Understanding, remarked on the increasing parliamentary momentum behind tougher UK actions towards Israel.
He emphasized that as the situation for Palestinians deteriorates, characterized by allegations of genocide and ethnic cleansing, there is a growing expectation that the UK government will take stronger positions consistent with the humanitarian concerns raised by both parliamentarians and the public.
The letter serves as a reflection of this sentiment and calls for an urgent examination of the UK’s policy towards Israel.