The UK prime minister and foreign minister defended the ban on imports from Judea and Samaria, calling it the 'right thing to do.' Eight Muslim countries including Jordan, Turkey, and Qatar applauded the decision, as did the terror group Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, according to The Zioneer.
Wednesday evening, the UK prime minister and foreign minister explicitly defended their government's ban on imports from Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, calling the move the 'right thing to do' and stating they will always stand up for the 'underdog,' according to a report from The Zioneer based on Jewish Breaking News. The same report adds that the terror group Hamas and the Palestinian Authority separately applauded the decision, joining earlier public support from the leaders of eight Muslim countries — including Jordan, Turkey, and Qatar. The UK has not commented on the support from Hamas and the PA.
This development follows a cascade of reports published on Tuesday, September 8. At 13:57 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that the UK and nine European nations — including France, Canada, and Sweden — announced trade sanctions on Judea and Samaria. By the same hour, the coalition had expanded to 12 countries. Subsequently, eight Muslim countries (Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, and Indonesia) issued a joint statement welcoming the UK ban, and later broadened their welcome to include the wider European sanctions. Reports throughout Tuesday traced the evolution from a unilateral UK move to a coordinated multilateral action.
As The Zioneer has previously reported, the UK had earlier imposed personal sanctions on Israeli activists, and Israel responded by ordering the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem. The Trump administration did not oppose the UK initiative, according to N12. Hamas has in the past praised similar measures, such as Belgium's import ban. The current UK defense — with the prime minister and foreign minister publicly doubling down — signals that London intends to maintain its stance despite Israel's diplomatic countermeasures.
It remains unclear whether the UK will address the endorsement of its policy by Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, a development that has drawn attention to the alignment of British policy with actors opposing Israel's sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.
9 developments
- DevelopingQatar welcomes Belgium, Netherlands ban on imports from Judea, Samaria settlements
- DevelopingUK urges more nations to join sanctions on Judea and Samaria communities
- DevelopingEight countries condemn Israeli activity in Judea and Samaria, call on UN Security Council to act
- StrongTrump administration refrained from opposing UK sanctions initiative on Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria – N12
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