London, February 18 (RHC)-- More than 60 members of the British parliament and political figures have demanded a ban on all goods coming into the United Kingdom from illegal Israeli settlements built in the occupied Palestinian territories.
They have written an open letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, calling for the embargo over the Tel Aviv regime’s genocidal war on Gaza and ongoing atrocities in the West Bank.
The MPs want to halt the importing of settler goods such as olive oil, wine, dates, oranges, and other produce into Britain. Among the signatories are Lord Bishop of Gloucester, Kit Malthouse, Con, Baroness Warsi, Con, Lord Peter Hain, Lab, Carla Denyer, Greens, Ben Lake, Plaid Cymru, Alistair Carmichael, Lib Dem, and Brendan O’ Hara, SNP.
"We believe that the most viable way to resolve decades of conflict must be based on respect for international law."
"In this regard, the UK has an obligation to ensure that its trade relations with Israel are consistent with the UK’s commitments to human rights and international law. We consider that the UK’s existing trade and investment relationship with Israel currently falls short of the standards required and urge you to rectify this," the letter read.
Legislator Brian Leishman, Alloa and Grangemouth (Labour) said Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet has acted with impunity, and the lack of action from the international community has been disgraceful. He emphasized that the UK should show international and moral leadership, and cease the trading of goods from illegal Israeli settlements.
“The government’s rightful condemnation of settler violence and expansion rings hollow when it is seemingly willing to turn a blind eye to the import of illegal settlement goods."
"A UK ban on the import of goods produced in whole or in part in the illegal settlements would be an essential first step towards complying with the country's international obligations,” Tim Bierley, campaign manager at Global Justice Now, said.
More than 700,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.
The international community views the settlements as illegal under international law and the Geneva Conventions due to their construction on occupied territories. The UN Security Council has condemned Israel’s settlement activities in several resolutions.
[ SOURCE: PRESS TV and NEWS AGENCIES ]
