Ammon News - Britain will announce a trade ban on goods made in Israeli settlements in the occupied ​West Bank later on Tuesday, confirmed a senior minister, as part ‌of the UK's efforts to support a two-state solution.

Six weeks into his new job, foreign minister Ed Miliband flagged last week that he was looking ​at resetting Britain's policy on Israel, and he is due to ​make a statement on Israel and trading restrictions in ⁠the House of Commons.

Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, also in ​office since July, spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday to ​stress the "the importance of the two-state solution", in what is seen as a reference to the sanctions.

Miliband said last week that Israel's E1 settlement project ​in the West Bank would cut across land which the Palestinians ​seek for a state, putting at risk the two-state solution.

Asked about how the ‌trade ⁠ban would operate, pensions minister Pat McFadden did not give details.

"The foreign secretary will make a statement to Parliament later today," McFadden told Times Radio.

"The reason that danger has become more urgent is ​because of expanded ​settlement activity ⁠in recent weeks and months."

U.N. bodies and most governments, including Britain, consider Israeli settlements in the West ​Bank illegal under international law, and regard the ​West Bank ⁠as territory under Israeli military occupation.

Israel argues that the territory is disputed rather than occupied, and asserts that Jews have a historical right ⁠to ​the land.

The Israeli prime minister's office ​and the foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.


Reuters