Quakers welcome UK’s “new approach” to Israeli occupation of Palestine
Quakers in Britain has welcomed a raft of measures announced by the UK government today as it seeks to reset British policy towards Israel.
The measures, confirmed by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on Tuesday, include a ban on the import of goods from settlements, sanctions on those who provide services to settlements, and sanctions on extremist settlers.
Quakers in Britain welcomed the announcement as a first step towards a broader policy reset. It said the moves mark a fundamental and long-awaited shift.
"Successive UK governments have recognised that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.
“But years of recognition without any meaningful action by the UK and the wider international community have come at a devastating cost," they said in a statement (PDF).
During that time, Israel had "deepened and expanded its settlement enterprise".
"Not the root cause"
Quakers said settlements were not the root problem, pointing to Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestine and system of apartheid over Palestinians.
It cited a 2024 ruling by the International Court of Justice which found Israel's occupation unlawful and said states, including the UK, have a legal duty not to help it continue.
In line with its legal obligations, Quakers called for the UK to extend the settlement trade ban to include all services, end UK arms sales to Israel, and suspend the preferential UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement.
“Anything less than a comprehensive package of measures, with full enforcement powers, risks once more addressing the symptoms while leaving the cause intact," the statement said.
The group linked its call to a decision it took in 2011 to boycott goods from Israeli settlements.
At the time, Quakers said their "hearts are full of compassion for Israelis and Palestinians, all of whom are suffering from the effects of the occupation".
Quakers in Britain said: “Palestinians have made clear that this is now an existential struggle. As the Foreign Secretary said today, the UK is not a powerless bystander and cannot stand back from its responsibilities. We welcome this new government's recognition that the time to act is now".