Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has expressed support for the United Kingdom’s recent decision to ban trade with Israeli settlements considered illegal under international law. The announcement was made by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who emphasized the UK’s disapproval of settlement activities in the West Bank.
Olmert characterized the UK’s move as an inevitable response to what he described as ongoing efforts of ethnic cleansing by extremist Jewish settlers in the occupied territory. In comments to The Guardian, Olmert accused these groups of carrying out violent acts with the active assistance of Israeli police and military personnel over an extended period. He also criticized senior Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alleging their support for the settlers and failure to intervene effectively.
“These terrorists are being backed by security forces, and the government is avoiding taking the necessary steps to halt these crimes,” Olmert said. While condemning the attacks attributed to settler militants, he underscored that many Israelis vehemently oppose such violence and are working to resist it.
The former prime minister framed the UK sanctions as targeted specifically at the settlers involved in these actions, not at Israel as a state, calling the measures unavoidable under the circumstances. His statements come amid preparations for Israel’s general elections, scheduled for late next month.
In his announcement, Miliband referenced Olmert’s prior descriptions of settlement violence as “a violent and criminal effort to ethnically cleanse territories in the West Bank.” The British government’s new policy is seen as part of broader international efforts to address the expansion of settlements in contested areas, which many countries view as a barrier to peace negotiations.
The Israeli government has maintained that settlements are legitimate and has generally opposed international attempts to restrict related trade. The differing perspectives on the settlements remain a key point of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and continue to influence diplomatic relations.