Forum Message

Topic: UK boycott of Israeli settlements
Posted by: Steven Rose
Date/Time: 08/09/26 10:26:00

Today Ed Miliband is expected to announce a 'reset' in Britain's relations with Israel with a boycott of trade with settlements on the West Bank. The purpose is to promote the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank as part of a two state solution to the conflict.

Can such a policy be effectively implemented? The answer is, with difficulty. While British firms might be banned from selling to the settlements, in practice it is impossible to distinguish between goods  coming from the West Bank from those produced in Israel.

Will this policy deter Israel from further expansion into the West Bank? Absolutely not. The settlements will simply find other suppliers and other markets. Will it deter settler violence? Hardly. The religious fanatics who attack Palestinian villages will probably be emboldened, believing that the whole world is against the Jewish people.

Will there be consequences for Britain as a result of this policy? Almost certainly. Israel will retaliate, possibly by banning imports of British goods or restricting the sale of pharmaceuticals to Britain or by refusing to cooperate with the security services on Islamist threats to Britain. There will also be consequences for Britain's trade with America as the Trump administration strongly opposes such action.

Then why do it? And why do it now given that there will shortly be an election in Israel at which Netanyahu might be lose power? The answer is that Labour are essentially a performative party who have no grasp of practical policies but simply engage in virtue signalling, advertising their commitment to various ideals. And I would not exclude from their motives a wish to outflank the Greens, who are likely to attract the vote of those who support the Palestinian cause.

Then 

Entire Thread
TopicDate PostedPosted By
UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 10:26:00 Steven Rose
   Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 10:46:00 Michael Brigo
      Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 11:02:00 Steven Rose
      Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 11:38:00 John Hawkes
         Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 11:51:00 Michael Brigo
   Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 11:21:00 John Hawkes
      Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 12:37:00 John Hawkes
         Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 12:45:00 Michael Brigo
         Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 13:01:00 John Hawkes
   Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 13:10:00 John Hawkes
   Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 13:17:00 John Hawkes
   Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 13:27:00 John Hawkes
      Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 13:58:00 Lucille Grant
         PS 08/09/26 14:17:00 Lucille Grant
         Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 14:18:00 John Hawkes
   Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 17:12:00 Clifford Cowell
      Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements08/09/26 17:33:00 Robert Wheeler
         Reply08/09/26 17:37:00 Michael Ixer
            Re:Reply08/09/26 17:47:00 Robert Wheeler
               Re:Re:Reply08/09/26 19:57:00 Michael Brigo
                  Re:Re:Re:Reply08/09/26 20:31:00 Robert Wheeler
                     Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply08/09/26 20:48:00 Michael Brigo
               Re:Re:Reply08/09/26 21:54:00 Jonathan Callaway
               Reply08/09/26 22:28:00 Michael Ixer
                  Reply08/09/26 22:34:00 Michael Ixer
                     Re:Reply08/09/26 23:17:00 Steven Rose
                        Re:Re:Reply09/09/26 11:21:00 John Hawkes
         Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 08:20:00 Clifford Cowell
            Re:Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 09:13:00 Robert Wheeler
               Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 09:35:00 Michael Brigo
                  Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 11:05:00 Steven Rose
                     Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 11:30:00 John Hawkes
                     Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 11:57:00 Michael Brigo
                        Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 13:10:00 Steven Rose
                           Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 13:19:00 Michael Brigo
                              Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 13:33:00 John Hawkes
                        Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 13:19:00 John Hawkes
                           Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 13:47:00 Michael Brigo
                              Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 14:04:00 John Hawkes
                           UK boycott of Israeli settlements09/09/26 13:50:00 John Hawkes
   Reply09/09/26 13:42:00 Michael Ixer
      Re:Reply09/09/26 15:56:00 Steven Rose
         Re:Re:Reply09/09/26 16:40:00 John Hawkes
      Re:Reply10/09/26 11:17:00 John Hawkes

Forum Home