British Prime Minister stresses the importance of supporting the two-state solution through concrete actions, not just words
London, Sept 8 (KUNA) -- British Prime Minister Andy Burnham affirmed on Tuesday the importance of taking concrete actions on the ground, “not just words and statements,” to implement the two-state solution “which we support.” In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) page following the announcement of a ban on importing goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Burnham said, “We have called for years for the implementation of a two-state solution in the Middle East, but we must recognize that these words are worthless unless backed by actions.” He added, “We have long hesitated to take action for fear of being accused of antisemitism. Today, we announce measured, targeted steps that do not target the Israeli people, but rather the unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government.”
The Prime Minister addressed the suffering of the Palestinian people, describing it as “a stain on the conscience of the world,” noting that innocent Palestinians, especially children, continue to be killed in the Gaza Strip, and that a humanitarian crisis persists as very limited amounts of aid continue to enter. He observed that “it is difficult to grasp the scale of the devastation: more than 70,000 people have been killed, including around 20,000 children; families and communities have been torn apart; and millions have been displaced, with Gaza’s population now confined to just one-third of the Strip’s area.”
Regarding the situation in the West Bank, the British Prime Minister stressed that the construction of new settlements undermines the prospects for a two-state solution, and that violence committed by settlers, particularly this year, has further exacerbated the situation. He said, “The Israeli government has approved 104 new settlements since taking office in December 2022. It is now, ahead of the Israeli elections scheduled for late October next year, proceeding with tenders for the construction of the massive ‘E1’ settlement.” He clarified, “This project would carve a path through the heart of the West Bank, destroying any hope of achieving a two-state solution, and we cannot allow that to happen.”
The British Prime Minister’s stance follows the announcement earlier today by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband of a new set of trade restrictions on illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, in response to escalating violence by Israeli settlers and plans to build additional illegal settlements. Speaking before the House of Commons, Miliband said, “The UK will ban the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.” He added that the measures include banning advertising of products from illegal settlements in the UK, and emphasized that the country “will take action” against companies and individuals providing services such as construction or financing to expand settlements. He affirmed that the new sanctions aim to enable the realization of a two-state solution, noting that the recent policies of the Israeli occupation government are incompatible with that goal. (End) A.S.H. / S.A.M.
