British

Middle East live: Israel to close British consulate in Jerusalem after sanctions on settlements

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband accused the Israeli government on Tuesday of turning a "blind eye" to what he called "ethnic cleansing" by settlers in the West Bank as the UK joined France and ten other countries in banning imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied territory. The decision comes amid rising violence over settlement expansion. Follow our liveblog for the latest.

FRANCE 24

UK, France and ten other countries to sanction trade from Israeli settlements

Twelve countries including Britain, Canada and France Tuesday said they would slap sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, after increasing attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian villages in the occupied territory. British Foreign Minister Ed ​Miliband said Britain ‌could no longer simply "call out" injustice and suffering, but told the House of Commons that the country now had ⁠to "act" to oppose the expansion of settlements.

FRANCE24

UK ban on goods from Israeli settlements 'evidence of Netanyahu's failure'

British foreign minister Ed Miliband accused the Israeli government on Tuesday of turning a "blind eye" to what he called "ethnic cleansing" by settlers in the West Bank. Miliband told parliament the UK government would introduce "an import ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories", in a move coordinated with other countries. Jordana Miller, ABC correspondent in Jerusalem, told France 24 that the ban was evidence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to rein in the far-right elements of his government that has facilitated the growth of settlements.

FRANCE24