UK brings in expanded sanctions regime covering enablers of illegal Israeli settlements
A widened UK human rights sanctions regime took effect on Thursday 15 October, letting ministers target people and entities that enable illegal Israeli settlements, obstruct aid or unlawfully detain prisoners. Israel had already downgraded the UK consulate in Jerusalem in protest.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 1The UK is expanding its sanctions powers so that it can freeze assets and target entities that enable illegal Israeli settlements, obstruct humanitarian aid or unlawfully hold prisoners. The GuardianLC “The UK is expanding its sanctions powers to freeze assets and target entities enabling illegal Israeli settlements, obstructing humanitarian aid or unlawfully holding prisoners.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Mixed · 2The expanded regime came into force on Thursday 15 October, according to Arab News. The Guardian said it would also need endorsement by MPs and peers within 28 days. Arab NewsRC “An expanded regime of human rights-related sanctions came into force in the UK on Thursday” Read at Arab News ↗ The GuardianLC “will need endorsement by MPs and peers within 28 days” Read at The Guardian ↗ Left · 1The statutory instrument adds three grounds to the 2020 regime: serious violations of international humanitarian law, obstruction of humanitarian assistance, and serious violations of the right to liberty and security of person. Unlawful settlement activity is covered as a breach of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention on occupation. The GuardianLC “adds three new grounds to the 2020 regime”“Unlawful settlement activity will be captured through a breach of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention on occupation.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Left · 1The powers reach beyond direct perpetrators to those who facilitate, incite, promote or support qualifying conduct, finance it, supply goods or technology, conceal evidence or benefit from it. Banks and companies could be caught, because designation requires only reasonable grounds to suspect involvement. The GuardianLC “those who facilitate, incite, promote or support qualifying conduct, provide it with finance, goods or technology, conceal evidence of it or benefit from it”“designation only requires reasonable grounds to suspect involvement” Read at The Guardian ↗ Left · 1Measures include asset freezes, bans on making funds available, travel bans and director disqualifications. A new urgent procedure lets ministers mirror designations made by the EU, US, Canada or Australia for up to 112 days while a separate UK case is prepared. Refusing permits or blocking convoys can justify sanctions without a formal breach of international humanitarian law. The GuardianLC “asset freezes and prohibitions on making funds or economic resources available, travel bans and director disqualifications”“mirror designations already made by the EU, US, Canada or Australia for up to 112 days”“Refusing permits or blocking convoys will be sufficient grounds to apply sanctions” Read at The Guardian ↗ Mixed · 2Foreign secretary Ed Miliband announced the changes last month, saying they would allow "swifter action to deter settlement expansion". The Foreign Office said the regime targets those who commit serious violations of international humanitarian law "in Palestine and around the world". Arab News reported that the package also includes a ban on imports of settlement goods, while the Guardian said separate work with European partners is under way on how to outlaw British trade with unlawful settlements. Arab NewsRC “swifter action to deter settlement expansion.”“a ban on imports to the UK of goods produced in settlements” Read at Arab News ↗ The GuardianLC “Separate work is under way by UK officials in conjunction with European partners on how to outlaw British trade with unlawful Israeli settlements.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Mixed · 2The timing is linked to the E1 settlement in the West Bank, which would have 1,234 homes. Bids close on 19 October. The Guardian reported that the Israel Land Authority will not open the tender box or consider bids before 19 November, after the Israeli election on 27 October. Many observers say E1 would sever a contiguous Palestinian state and make a two-state solution near impossible. The GuardianLC “The E1 bids close on 19 October but the Israel Land Authority has confirmed that the tender box will not be opened” Read at The Guardian ↗ Arab NewsRC “it would separate key areas of Palestinian territory envisioned as forming part of a future state” Read at Arab News ↗ Left · 1The British Palestinian Project welcomed the new right-to-liberty ground, saying it opens a route to sanctions over arbitrary detention, including of Palestinian children. It also said the Israeli deferral "does not remove the need to deter commitments being made now", because contracts could be signed before a new Israeli government is formed. The GuardianLC “does not remove the need to deter commitments being made now”“it opens a route to sanctions for serious arbitrary or unlawful detention, including of Palestinian children” Read at The Guardian ↗ Mixed · 2Israel reacted angrily to the UK's tougher stance. The Guardian said Israel closed the UK consulate last week and forced the withdrawal of 21 diplomats. Arab News said Israeli authorities threatened closure before downgrading the Jerusalem consulate to a "UK Mission", forcing the withdrawal of about 20 diplomats. Arab News attributed the stance to the government of new prime minister Andy Burnham. The GuardianLC “forcing the it to withdraw 21 diplomats and downgrade the consulate to the status of a mission” Read at The Guardian ↗ Arab NewsRC “They threatened to close the historic British consulate in Jerusalem last week before downgrading it to the status of “UK Mission,” forcing the UK to withdraw about 20 diplomats.” Read at Arab News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Detailed policy explainer on the legal mechanics of the new regime and its reach to banks and companies, with the E1 timing and Israel's retaliation as context.
- Emphasis
- Legal grounds, the lowered threshold for aid obstruction, the 112-day mirroring procedure, detention of Palestinian children, and Israel's election-linked E1 deferral.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the settlement-goods import ban that Arab News reports.
- Charged language
- “so-called two-state solution”
- For example
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“Banks and commercial entities could also fall within this remit as designation only requires reasonable grounds to suspect involvement.” — The Guardian
“But the Israeli punishment does not appear to have deterred the UK government.” — The Guardian
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Short news item that the regime has come into force, building on the Foreign Office's and Miliband's earlier statements and the Guardian's reporting.
- Emphasis
- The government's stated aim, the E1 deadline, the import ban on settlement goods, and Israel's "furious reaction".
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little of the legal detail, the parliamentary approval requirement, the election-linked E1 deferral or the detention grounds.
- Charged language
- “furious reaction”
What every side reports
- The UK has expanded its human rights sanctions regime, with effect from Thursday 15 October.
- The powers are meant to cover illegal Israeli settlement activity and those who support or profit from it.
- The timing is tied to the 19 October E1 settlement bid deadline.
- Israel downgraded the UK consulate in Jerusalem to a mission in response, and about 20 UK diplomats were withdrawn.
Where accounts differ
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What Israel did to the UK consulate
- Left
- The Guardian says Israel closed the consulate and forced the withdrawal of 21 diplomats, downgrading it to a mission.
- Right
- Arab News says Israel threatened closure before downgrading it to a "UK Mission", forcing the withdrawal of about 20 diplomats.
Ed Miliband person
As foreign secretary, announced the changes last month, saying they would allow swifter action to deter settlement expansion, and is pushing them through at speed.
“swifter action to deter settlement expansion.” — Arab News
“is pushing through the measures at speed” — The Guardian
United Kingdom place
The UK government presents the regime as a worldwide tool against serious violations of international humanitarian law, including settlements, and has not been deterred by Israel's downgrade of its consulate.
“those who commit serious violations of international humanitarian law, in Palestine and around the world” — Arab News
“the Israeli punishment does not appear to have deterred the UK government” — The Guardian
UK sanctions on Israeli settlements topic
The sanctions are aimed at deterring settlement expansion and the E1 bidders and their backers, and at those who enable or profit from illegal settlement activity.
“support, facilitate or profit from illegal settlement activity.” — Arab News
UK and Ireland1 outlet
The Guardian gives a detailed account of the legal mechanics and the domestic approval process.
“will need endorsement by MPs and peers within 28 days” — The Guardian
The Guardian
Middle East1 outlet
Arab News gives a short account focused on the aim of deterring settlement expansion and Israel's reaction, citing the Guardian.
“The Guardian newspaper reported.” — Arab News
Arab News
Left1 article
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New UK sanctions powers will enable action against supporters of illegal Israeli settlements
Neutral Explanatory report on the new regime's legal scope and the E1 and detention context, noting Israel's retaliation had not deterred the UK.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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UK strengthens human rights-related sanctions to address issue of Israeli settlements
Neutral Brief report that the regime is in force, relaying government statements and the Guardian, and noting Israel's "furious reaction".
- 14 Oct 17:51 First The GuardianLC New UK sanctions powers will enable action against supporters of illegal Israeli settlements
- 15 Oct 22:27 +28h 36m Arab NewsRC UK strengthens human rights-related sanctions to address issue of Israeli settlements
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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