Britain announced significant trade restrictions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including an import ban, while saying extremist settlers were perpetrating ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. [S1][S2]
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Parliament that the British government agreed ethnic cleansing was occurring in parts of the West Bank and attributed it to “settler terrorists.” [S1]
The package covers settlement goods and services supporting expansion, while Britain also said it would refuse arms-export applications that materially contribute to the occupation. [S1]
The action was coordinated with France and Canada, which were reported as planning corresponding restrictions on settlement goods. [S1][S4]
The trade restrictions were prospective: reports said implementing legislation was expected within nine months, with AP specifying six to nine months. [S2][S4]
Verification result: verified, because all five material claims are corroborated, none is contradicted, and the contradicted-weight ratio is 0/300, or 0 percent. [S1][S2]
A remaining limitation is that enforcement details were unclear, including how Britain would distinguish settlement goods from products made in Israel. [S3]
