The British government
issued new recommendations to its business community last week, warning
citizens against doing business with individuals or entities in Israeli
settlements.
“EU citizens and
businesses should also be aware of the potential reputational implications of
getting involved in economic and financial activities in settlements, as well
as possible abuses of the rights of individuals,” reads the warning on the U.K.
Trade and Investment site, in its “Overseas Business Risk Report” for Israel,
which is part of a larger survey by the trade agency that makes recommendations
regarding the risks of doing business in various parts of the world.
“The U.K. has a clear
position on Israeli settlements: The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza
and the Golan Heights are territories which have been occupied by Israel since
1967. Settlements are illegal under international law, constitute an obstacle
to peace and threaten to make a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict impossible. We will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders,
including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties,”
the warning reads.
A senior Foreign Ministry
official in Jerusalem said the British Foreign Office had told the Israeli
Embassy in London about the pending recommendations only a short time before
they were posted on the UKTI website. The Israeli diplomats in London and the
Foreign Ministry officials in Jerusalem made it clear to their British
counterparts that Israel was disappointed by the new recommendation.
“We told them that we are
currently holding talks with the Palestinians and thus issuing such a
recommendation at this time will only do harm,” said a senior Foreign Ministry
official. “There’s also something strange about the fact that no similar
recommendations were issued regarding other regions in dispute, like the
western Sahara, which is under Moroccan occupation, or Tibet.”
The British government
site warns British businessmen that there are risks in doing business in the
settlements, and the government will not “encourage or offer support to such
activity.
“Financial transactions,
investments, purchases, procurements as well as other economic activities
(including in services like tourism) in Israeli settlements or benefiting
Israeli settlements, entail legal and economic risks stemming from the fact
that the Israeli settlements, according to international law, are built on
occupied land and are not recognised as a legitimate part of Israel's
territory,” the warning says.
“This may result in
disputed titles to the land, water, mineral or other natural resources which
might be the subject of purchase or investment,” the warning continues. “Those
contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek
appropriate legal advice.”
The recommendation also
sympathetically acknowledges “the concerns of people who do not wish to
purchase goods exported from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories.”
However, the
recommendation stresses, “The U.K. Government is deeply committed to promoting
our trade and business ties with Israel and strongly opposes boycotts.”
The Spokesman at the
British Embassy in Tel Aviv said the FCO has placed advice online to raise
awareness of the key security and political risks which U.K. businesses may
face when operating abroad, including in Israel and the Palestinian territories
and this includes guidance on Israeli settlements.
"We are advising
British businesses to bear in mind the British Government's view on the
illegality of settlements under international law when considering their
investments and activities in the region", the British embassy said.
"This is voluntary guidance to British businesses on doing business in
Israel and OPTs.
Ultimately it will be the decision of an individual or company
whether to operate in settlements in the Occupied Territories, but the British
Government would neither encourage nor offer support to such activity."
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