Will Ruscitella/Block 5/IR
This article discusses the recent restriction of goods within illegal Israeli West Bank settlements. The UK has restricted imports and exports due to these actions from Israel, coming out in support of Palestine and emphasizing the importance of a two-state solution. Secretary Of State Ed Miliband said Israel was ethnically cleansing Palestine and that although he still supports Israel, he doesn’t support the actions of the Israeli government. After the UK restricted the goods coming out of these illegal settlements in the west bank, many other European countries followed suit (IE: Canada, France, Netherlands). In response to this, the Israeli Government closed the British consulate in Jerusalem and banned 12 British MPs (members of Parliament) from entering Israel. Although this isn’t a ban on trade, it will, and has still started conflicts as the European countries have condemned the actions of Israel directly.
I believe the UK’s opposition to Israel’s ethnic cleansing is incredibly admirable and imperative to help liberate the Palestinians. The UK’s altruism has led to a collection of other European countries in opposing Israel’s illegal settlements as well. This restriction on trade goes farther than what we think as it actively combats Israel’s violation of settlement, and I wish to see more countries go against the Israel government to avoid an ethnic cleansing. Like the UK, who opposed the Israeli Government but didn’t end their alliance, the U.S could also participate in this, instead we choose to stay not just complicit, but supportive in the genocide which continues to disappoint the general public. I do believe this will internationally isolate Israel more and hopefully push the idea of a two state solution further.
The Israeli Government could eradicate the illegal settlements in the West Bank which would diffuse this conflict swiftly, however, with what we’ve seen with the retaliation, that doesn’t feel likely. Instead, It seems the Israeli Government is now experiencing friction with these European countries who have announced these restrictions. The UK seems firm in this stance, and it doesn’t feel any type of diplomacy will occur until Israel gets rid of the illegal settlements in the West Bank, which they feel entitled to. Since this isn’t a ban on all trade and just applies to the restricted areas, the effects won’t be as prominent, the conflict more so comes from the active resistance to Israeli forces. To connect this back to class, multinational corporations will play a key role in the following periods of time, they will probably compensate for the UK’s lack of imports and exports of goods. This conflict also escalates because the UK views Palestine as a state-nation while Israel views them as a stateless-nation. This difference of recognition changes how each country interacts with Palestine. We can also see NGOs playing a vital role in this conflict with pro-Palestine campaigns and advocacy groups pushing for a two-state solution as well as pressuring politicians and government organizations to oppose Israeli forces just like the UK and the other European countries did.