00:0111 European countries and Canada jointly announced on Tuesday that they plan to ban imports from
00:07Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, following increasing attacks by settlers against
00:12Palestinians and the uncurbed expansion of illegal settlements. The statement was signed by Canada,
00:19the UK, France, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
00:26Britain's Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced the import ban and other measures in Parliament.
00:31The British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank,
00:36perpetrated by settler terrorists. And all too often, the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this,
00:43and worse, members of it have made statements and taken actions to support the forced displacement
00:49of Palestinians. So I can announce today that we will introduce an import ban on goods from illegal
00:54settlements in the occupied territories. To do so, we will introduce a new comprehensive
00:59sanctions regime, working with my right hon. friend, the business secretary, with appropriate
01:03religious exemptions.
01:05Israel responded furiously, ordering the closure of Britain's consulate in Jerusalem and banning 12
01:11British nationals from visiting the country, including lawmakers from the governing Labour Party.
01:16It comes after the Israeli government last month opened up tenders for the construction of around
01:211,200 housing units in the West Bank, drawing widespread condemnation from the international community
01:27and human rights groups. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue establishing
01:33the settlements which are illegal under international law.
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