UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has welcomed Britain’s planned ban on goods produced in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, but warned that the measure will amount to little more than a “press release" unless London takes additional steps against Israel.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has pledged tougher action over Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria and restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza. The move has drawn sharp criticism from US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who accused the British government of being motivated by “Jew hatred."
Albanese told The Guardian that a ban on settlement goods would represent an “important" change in Britain’s policy, but said it must be part of what she called a “true paradigm shift" in the UK’s approach to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
She cited a 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice, which declared Israel’s presence in the territories unlawful and called on other states not to recognize or assist the situation.
Albanese argued that Britain should go beyond agricultural products and cosmetics, saying settlement goods represent only a small portion of the economic activity connected to Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria.
She also called for restrictions on services, intelligence cooperation, arms licenses and flights from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
“If these steps are completely off the table," Albanese warned, the policy changes could eventually be viewed as little more than a “press release."