The United Kingdom, Canada and France on Tuesday imposed trade measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, prompting Pakistan to welcome the move and call for stronger international action against settlement expansion.
Announcing the measures, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband accused the Israeli government of turning a “blind eye” to what he described as “ethnic cleansing” by settlers in the West Bank.
Foreign ministers from 12 other countries, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, also issued a joint statement expressing their intention to consider similar measures. They said Israeli actions in the West Bank were undermining prospects for a two-state solution.
In a statement on X, Pakistan’s Foreign Office welcomed the UK-led measures, saying the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory was a violation of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The Foreign Office said settlement expansion was also hindering efforts towards a two-state solution and welcomed the joint statement by the 12 countries considering similar measures against Israeli settlements.
“Pakistan hopes that these measures will send a clear and unequivocal message of rejection of illegal actions in the occupied Palestinian territory,” the FO said.
Islamabad reiterated its support for the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.
Israel responded to the UK measures by ordering the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem. It also announced plans to expel British representatives from a centre monitoring the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan, halt British training for Palestinian Authority forces and bar 12 British nationals, mostly lawmakers, from entering Israel.
Miliband condemned the Israeli response as “regrettable and damaging”. Speaking to BBC Radio, he rejected suggestions that the sanctions would affect intelligence and security cooperation between Britain and Israel.
He said the two countries maintained important intelligence and security ties and expressed confidence that the cooperation would continue.
Miliband also said Britain remained committed to working with Israel on security threats posed by Iran.
