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U.K. accuses Israeli settlers of 'ethnic cleansing,' bans trade : NPR
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a ban on imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, labeling Israeli settlers as "terrorists" engaged in "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians.
- Canada and France joined the UK in imposing similar bans, with France advocating for a European Union-wide embargo on settlement goods, following other European countries like Ireland and Spain.
- The UK government clarified that the measures target goods from settlements specifically and are intended to pressure Israel over settlement expansion, which is seen as undermining the two-state solution.
- The U.S. ambassador to Israel criticized the UK's move as "irrational," warning of potential repercussions for British businesses, while Israel threatened retaliatory actions including expelling the British ambassador.
- The announcement marks a significant deterioration in UK-Israel relations and has sparked strong reactions from Israeli officials, with concerns about the potential broadening of sanctions against Israeli products and companies.
