U.K. announces sanctions on West Bank settlements

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British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced Tuesday that the U.K. government will impose sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which he called "unlawful." "Today, I announce that the official view of the British government is that the occupation is unlawful because of Israel's entrenchment of its control, its intention to extend permanent sovereignty, and its expansionist agenda via illegal settlements," he told members of Parliament. Secretary Miliband said his country would ban imports from Israeli settlements built on land that is internationally recognized as Palestinian territory, with the measures expected to go into effect in six to nine months. "The government believes the unlawfulness of the occupation should be reflected in the economic relationships we choose to have with the occupied territories," he said. He said the U.K. would take action against companies and individuals that provide services like construction, infrastructure and financing