UK's global sanctions regime against Israeli settlements comes into effect

The United Kingdom's new global sanctions regime against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank came into effect on Thursday. The enforcement was timed to take effect on 15 October, days before the 19 October deadline for bids in the E1 (East 1) settlement construction tenders in the West Bank. In September, Britain's Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced the country's strongest package of sanctions against Israel’s illegal settlements, targeting the trade, finance and services that sustain their expansion across the occupied West Bank. In a speech to parliament, Miliband said ethnic cleansing is happening in the occupied West Bank. The foreign secretary added that the UK will also "take action" against companies and individuals that provide services, such as construction or finance, for settlement expansion. "You will face the full force of UK sanctions," he said, adding that the advertisement of illegal settlements will also be banned in the UK. The Israeli government closed the UK consulate last week in protest, forcing the it to withdraw 21 diplomats and downgrade the consulate to the status of a mission. But the Israeli punishment does not appear to have deterred the UK government. Unlawful settlement activity will be captured through a breach of international humanitarian law. (Reuters)