Carmichael calls for UK ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called for the government to commit to banning the importation of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank in Palestine. Questioning the Business and Trade Secretary in Parliament, Mr Carmichael noted current negotiations on a free trade deal with Israel, and warned that the “double standard” of banning goods from Russian-occupied Crimea while allowing trade in goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements risked undermining the UK’s reputation in upholding the international rule of law.

Speaking in the House, Mr Carmichael asked:

“Can the Secretary of State give me some assurance that any free trade agreement with Israel will not allow the importation of goods produced in settlements on the West Bank?”

Responding for the government, Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch MP said:

“Yes, I can give that assurance. We are clear under our existing UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement that Israeli goods originating from the State of Israel receive tariff preferences. We also have a separate interim agreement between the UK and the Palestinian Authority. I confirm that that will continue to be the case with an upgraded FTA with Israel. We will not compromise our long-standing positions on the middle east process throughout this negotiation, including with respect to settlements.”

Reacting after the exchange, Mr Carmichael said:

“Excluding goods from illegal settlements from a future trade deal with Israel is necessary but insufficient. It is incomprehensible that we allow such goods to be sold in the UK in the first place, with or without tariffs. It is past time we had a clear ban on the products of illegal occupation.

“If we ban goods from Crimea, which is illegally occupied by Russia, then we cannot in good conscience allow goods from the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Such a double standard risks undermining the moral legitimacy of our efforts against Putin’s illegal invasion or any other illegal occupations in the future. If we believe in the international rule of law then we have to live up to it now.”