Foreign Secretary statement on the deadline for bids for the E1 settlement tender
The decision by the Israeli government to open tenders for settlements in E1 is a direct threat to the prospect of a two-state solution.
The Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said:
The decision by the Israeli Government to open tenders for settlements in E1 is a direct threat to the prospect of a two-state solution and has been widely condemned by the international community. Today is the deadline for bids for the E1 settlement tender.
I want to be very clear with those considering engaging in the tendering process: we have created new powers allowing us to sanction individuals and companies involved in the construction of illegal settlements such as E1.
We urge businesses and individuals not to proceed with bids for E1 construction tenders. They should be aware of legal and reputational consequences, including the risk of involving themselves in serious breaches of international law.
This UK Government will not accept the continued displacement of Palestinians and the unlawful occupation that persists.
That is why we committed to introduce legislation to ban goods imported from illegal settlements, and action on services that finance or facilitate them.
The British people do not want to be supporting the construction of illegal settlements.
This Government also condemns escalating settler violence in the West Bank, including recent attacks on officials from France, Belgium, Poland, and a Catholic Church representative, as well as a US journalist.
We will not be bystanders in the destruction of the two-state solution.
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