West Bank Sanctions: Netanyahu Accuses UK Labour Government of Interfering in Upcoming Israel Election

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations has accused Britain’s Labour government of trying to interfere in Israel’s upcoming election after the UK announced sweeping new measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Danon argued the measures could have the opposite effect on Israeli voters ahead of the October 27 election.

“We have issues with the Labour Government; I think they are trying to interfere in our elections. But if they are listening, I would tell them that they’re actually doing the opposite because I think they are actually supporting the government of Israel now by doing what they are doing today, because the people of Israel, they don’t like to see foreign interference a few weeks before elections,” he said on Tuesday in New York City.

His comments followed an announcement by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband that the UK would ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories and sanction companies and individuals facilitating settlement expansion.

Miliband also announced plans to ban UK advertising for properties in settlements and said Britain would refuse export license applications for arms and other goods that materially contribute to the occupation.

The settlement trade legislation is expected to take six to nine months to take effect.
The British government said the measures would target settlements and their expansion, rather than Israel itself.

Miliband also declared it the UK’s official position that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful.

Canada, France, and nine other European countries joined the UK in saying they intended to introduce or support restrictions, or were considering similar measures.