Orkney and Shetland MP, , 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
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.”
