London, October 20, 2026 : British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has condemned Israel’s decision to invite tenders for settlement construction in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, warning that the project threatens the prospects of a two-state solution.
In a statement issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Miliband said Britain would not stand by as efforts to achieve a two-state solution were undermined. He also rejected the continued displacement of Palestinians and what he described as the unlawful occupation.
Miliband reaffirmed the British government's commitment to introducing legislation prohibiting imports of goods from illegal settlements and taking action against services that finance or facilitate their activities.
He added that the government had established new powers to impose sanctions on individuals and companies involved in illegal settlement construction, including the E1 project.
The foreign secretary urged businesses and individuals to refrain from submitting bids for the E1 construction tenders, cautioning that participation could carry legal and reputational risks, including potential involvement in serious violations of international law.
In September, Britain announced a ban on imports of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, alongside a broader sanctions framework.
Separately, Miliband condemned attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and expressed concern over escalating settler violence across the West Bank.
He also denounced recent attacks targeting officials from France, Belgium and Poland, a representative of the Catholic Church, and a US journalist.
Source: QNA
