A British shop that stocks olive oil, wine or dates grown in a Jewish community in Yehuda V’Shomron can no longer bring that product into the country. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Parliament on Tuesday that the U.K. is banning imports of all goods from those communities, along with some services — financing, construction, infrastructure, real estate and advertising.
France and Canada are doing the same. The three countries said they are leading a 12-country effort to restrict the trade through national measures and European action, with Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden signing the joint statement. The Netherlands, Belgium and several others have already imposed bans or are moving to do so.
The line Britain is drawing matters for anyone shipping into Europe. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said before the announcement that the measure “isn’t intended to be a boycott of all Israeli goods,” and is aimed at construction over the Green Line. Israeli products made inside it are untouched. Goods produced in Jewish communities in Yehuda V’Shomron are not — and importers will now have to document origin rather than assume it.
Miliband said the British government accepts that ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is taking place in parts of the territory, carried out by what he called settler terrorists. The joint statement cited the E1 project near Jerusalem and said the Netanyahu government is undermining the possibility of a two-state solution. Israel opened bidding in August on 1,234 housing units in E1, which would link Maale Adumim to eastern Jerusalem.
Jerusalem hit back immediately. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned that if Britain moves against Israel, Israel will move against Britain. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demanded the British ambassador be expelled, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called on Netanyahu to recognize Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. President Isaac Herzog called the ban gross interference in Israel’s election and said it would harm Palestinians.
Washington is not on board. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the move an “irrational action” and said it discriminates against the Israeli government. Britain pressed ahead anyway, accepting friction with Washington, which remains Israel’s principal backer.For years Britain limited itself to condemnations and advisory guidance telling companies to steer clear of doing business there.
That guidance is now law, with roughly a dozen governments moving in the same direction at once. The European Union has held back, with officials concerned that acting before Israel’s election could help Netanyahu politically.
JBizNews Desk | London
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