Will the UK impose sanctions on Israel? How many MPs supported it?
As Israel's attacks on Lebanon, and primarily Palestine, continue, a motion calling on the UK government to impose various sanctions on Israel, including an arms embargo, has been submitted to Parliament with the signatures of 47 members of the House of Commons from 7 parties and independent MPs. Here are the details...
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The motion, prepared by independent MP Richard Burgon, states that the United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution demanding an end to Israel's illegal presence in Palestinian territories was welcomed.
It was noted that this resolution calls on other countries to address the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, to refrain from providing aid to the occupation, to stop purchasing products originating from Palestinian lands seized by Israelis in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, to halt arms sales to Israel, to take steps to prevent all trade with Israel, and to implement sanctions such as travel bans and asset freezes on those involved in perpetuating the occupation.
THE MOTION PROPOSES THAT THE UK TERMINATE ALL MILITARY EXPORTS
The motion, which refers to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that Israel, by occupying Palestinian territories, is in violation of international law, included the following statements:
"The UN General Assembly believes that this resolution imposes new obligations on governments. The motion calls on the (UK) government to terminate all military exports to Israel, to ban the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements, and to take action to support the UN resolution and the ICJ opinion, including canceling the '2030 Roadmap' that deepens the UK's economic, trade, and security relations with Israel."
The motion prepared by Burgon was signed by MPs from 7 parties in the House of Commons, as well as independent MPs.
Among the 47 signatories were independent MPs and members from political parties including the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish National Party (SNP), the Green Party, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, and Plaid Cymru (Wales).
While some MPs from the ruling Labour Party signed the motion, no MPs from the Conservative Party, the second-largest group in Parliament, signed it.