UK-Palestine Ties Strengthen Against Israeli Pressure, Envoy States

Palestinian relations with the UK government are resilient to Israeli pressure, with both nations collaborating on enforcing British sanctions against West Bank settlements, according to a prominent Palestinian envoy. Husam Zomlot, Palestine's ambassador to the UK, emphasized the critical role of these sanctions in counteracting Israeli economic pressure and mitigating the risks to the West Bank from annexation and collapse efforts.

Ambassador Zomlot detailed that Palestinian diplomats in the UK are actively working with British officials to ensure the newly implemented sanctions regime effectively targets settlements. He stated that Palestinian trade and finance are significantly hampered by the occupation, with nearly all exports passing through Israeli checkpoints and customs. Furthermore, Palestinian banks are compelled to use a limited number of Israeli banks for international transactions.

“They are strangling our economy. They have our economy by the throat. We need the UK and the rest of the world make sure that we have several throats to breathe,” Mr. Zomlot remarked, highlighting the dependency on the Israeli-controlled system for trade and banking.

Since the UK announced its sanctions ban on goods and services from illegal settlements in September, Mr. Zomlot has held regular meetings with British officials. He expressed a desire for British foreign policy to actively work towards disabling Israeli settlement expansion and occupation while simultaneously enabling Palestine's economy.

Palestinian officials, supported by British campaign groups, are advocating for a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel and sanctions against Israeli state institutions that facilitate settlement expansion. Mr. Zomlot noted that this sanctions track is in its nascent stages, with considerable progress still needed. He reiterated the Palestinian stance that settlements constitute the crime and Israel is the criminal, arguing against sanctioning only the crime without addressing the perpetrator.

Concurrently, discussions are underway to bolster trade relations between Palestine and the UK, building upon a previous agreement signed by Palestinian premier Mohammad Mustafa and former foreign secretary David Lammy. This involves enhancing bilateral and multilateral trade to support the establishment of the state of Palestine, which the UK recognized last year.

Efforts to upgrade trade and economic ties include initiatives like the recent roadshow organized by Paltrade and Palestinian olive oil company Al Reef, which promoted Palestinian agricultural products across Europe. Mr. Zomlot also indicated ongoing conversations regarding more substantial trade exchanges in technology and renewable energy expertise.

Israel has reportedly attempted to impede these strengthening UK-Palestine relations, retaliating against the settlements trade ban by downgrading the British consulate general in Jerusalem. However, this has not halted cooperation on the ground.

“We are working with all relevant authorities to make sure that the consulate general remains and the British presence remains as it was and as it is,” Mr. Zomlot stated, affirming Palestine's commitment to ensuring the consulate's strong presence and unchanged status. He condemned Israel's decision as illegal, asserting that Israel lacks sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem and that the consulate serves as Britain's diplomatic channel to the Palestinian people. He characterized the Israeli action as “piracy and diplomatic terror” and a deliberate attempt to remove all international representation from Jerusalem.

The UK Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, recently indicated that new regulations would empower the government to act more swiftly in designating individuals and organizations based on human rights violations.