UK declares Israeli occupation unlawful and bans imports from illegal settlements

By Al Jazeera English

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British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has told the House of Commons that the UK government now considers the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories unlawful, and will ban imports from illegal settlements. In a major policy shift, Miliband announced an import ban on goods from illegal settlements, action against companies and individuals facilitating settlement expansion, a ban on advertising illegal settlements in the UK, and a "double lock" against arms sales that materially contribute to the occupation. He said the British government agrees there is "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank, perpetrated by settler terrorists, and that the occupation is "unlawful" due to Israel's "expansionist agenda via illegal settlements." He also announced sanctions on Hezbollah's financing arm and new sanctions on Iran, including referring Tehran to the UN Security Council over nuclear violations. Miliband, speaking as a "proud British Jew", said: "Our argument is not wi

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