UK Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Urges Stronger Action Against Trade With Israeli Settlements
Emily Thornberry, chair of the UK Foreign Affairs Select Committee, has called on Britain to accelerate efforts to end economic and commercial ties with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, arguing that stronger measures are needed to support international law and preserve the prospects of a future Palestinian state.
Speaking in Westminster, Thornberry said the next UK government should ensure that no British financial, commercial, or insurance services contribute to the expansion of settlements, which are widely regarded by much of the international community as illegal under international law.
Her remarks come as Labour leader Andy Burnham is expected to become the United Kingdom’s next prime minister later this month, replacing Keir Starmer. Thornberry suggested the incoming leadership has an opportunity to adopt a firmer policy toward settlement-related trade and investment.
She argued that Britain should join a growing number of European countries that are pursuing stricter measures targeting goods and services connected to settlements in the occupied West Bank. According to Thornberry, preventing financial support for settlement expansion would reinforce international efforts aimed at protecting the viability of a two-state solution.
The comments also coincide with renewed international concern over Israel’s plans to expand settlements in the E1 corridor, an area between occupied East Jerusalem and the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. Critics argue that further construction there could significantly undermine the territorial continuity required for a future Palestinian state.
Thornberry said international legal guidance, including the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion, provides a basis for countries to avoid economic dealings linked to occupied Palestinian territories. She added that the UK already differentiates between Israel and settlements in certain trade arrangements, making additional restrictions feasible.
The senior lawmaker also noted that Burnham’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has evolved in recent years. While previously aligned with mainstream Labour policy, Burnham has since called for a ceasefire in Gaza, supported recognition of a Palestinian state, and pledged a tougher approach toward the Israeli government if he becomes prime minister.
Thornberry further reflected on international diplomacy, saying global powers had missed an opportunity to pursue a broader Middle East peace initiative during the early stages of Donald Trump’s presidency, as international attention shifted toward the war in Ukraine.
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