UK Sanctions Settlements

On September 8th, the UK announced sanctions against Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including an import trade ban, sanctions on companies and individuals, bans on advertising the sale of stolen land, and restrictions on arms export licensing. They were joined in the adoption of these policies by France and Canada, and nine other European countries released a statement announcing intentions to support the effort. This unprecedented raft of policies was largely framed as an attempt to salvage the two-state solution and to counter planned settlement expansion into the E-1 Corridor, which would split the West Bank in two.

On this episode of On the Nose, Arielle Angel speaks with Ryvka Barnard, deputy director of the UK-based Palestine Solidarity Campaign; Emily Hilton, international policy director at Diaspora Alliance; and Maya Rosen, associate editor of Jewish Currents, about these latest developments. They discuss the issues with limiting sanctions to the settlements in one-state reality, potential loopholes in implementation, and the reactions from the UK Jewish establishment and the Israeli settlement movement.

Thanks to Jesse Brenneman for editing and to Nathan Salsburg for the use of his song “VIII (All That Were Calculated Have Passed).”

Media Mentioned and Further Reading

Joint Foreign Ministers’ Statement on the Two-State Solution

“UK, France among 12 states backing sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements,” Al Jazeera

“Trump didn't oppose UK sanctions on Israeli settlements,” Barak Ravid, Axios

“The Wrong Way to Fight Antisemitism in Britain,” On the Nose, Jewish Currents

“Polling reveals Palestine a major factor in progressive voters ditching Labour,” Palestine Solidarity Campaign

“The Making of a Coal Boycott,” Andreas Malm and Maxy Guedes, Jewish Currents

“Burnham confirms top level government meeting to bolster security for Jewish community over High Holy Days,” Lee Harpin, Jewish News

“America Should Follow UK and Sanction West Bank Settlements,” New Jewish Narrative statement