How Britain is moving towards a ban on Israeli settlement goods
The Psagot winery, part of an illegal West Bank settlement
Imran Mulla reports in Middle East Eye on 3 June 2026:
The UK could soon impose a ban on the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements, as MPs from various parties, including from the ruling Labour Party, press for stronger action.
A significant shift in British policy now appears highly plausible in the near future – even likely – sources told Middle East Eye. According to several people close to the government, Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer told Labour MPs late last year that a ban on settlement goods is desirable.
The ultimate decision, however, lies with Downing Street.
In opposition, Labour called for a ban on the import of settlement goods, with then-Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy saying in June 2020 that the move would require “courage that so far ministers have not been willing to show”. The party did not carry that idea into government. Two years ago, Labour’s position was that there could be no sanctions or boycotts against Israel. This view has since changed fundamentally. Ministers accept that a ban on settlement goods would be consistent with the British position on the occupied territories, sources said.
The mood is also shifting across Europe. France and Sweden recently put forward a proposal calling on the European Union to enforce strict import controls on settlement goods. The Netherlands also banned trade in goods from the occupied territories last month.
And the US-Israeli war on Iran has pushed the Starmer government further away from having regard for what the Trump administration says about British policies.
Debate due on banning goods
Abtisam Mohamed, a Labour MP who sits on the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC), which scrutinises government policy, has secured a debate in parliament on banning settlement goods.