The UK is acting with international partners to protect the two-state solution: UK statement at the UN Security Council
The UK, working with partners, is taking steps to safeguard the two-state solution amid rising risks from settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank, while reiterating condemnation of Hamas and support for Israel’s security.
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to the two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians. Ambassador Kate Foster, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, highlighted that recent actions on the ground, including settlement expansion and settler violence, threaten the viability of this solution. The UK stressed that while it stands with Israel against threats, including from Iran, it does not condone actions in the West Bank that violate international law.
The UK expressed deep concern over Israel’s rapid settlement expansion in the West Bank, particularly the E1 project, which risks severing East Jerusalem from the West Bank and undermining the two-state solution. The government welcomed reports of a potential delay in settlement bid deadlines but emphasized the need for urgent action to halt further expansion. Settler violence has also increased alarmingly, with the UK calling for accountability and an end to pardons for violent crimes committed by Israeli soldiers.
The UK announced plans to legislate a ban on importing goods from illegal settlements and introduce sanctions against those financing or supporting such settlements. It reiterated its view that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land is unlawful and underscored the importance of Palestinian Authority reforms, including commitments to hold elections. The UK also welcomed Israel’s recent extension of correspondent banking relationships but called for immediate action to reverse policies harming the West Bank economy.
Regarding Gaza, the UK remains fully committed to implementing Resolution 2803 and the 20-Point Peace Plan. It reiterated that Hamas must decommission its weapons, dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, and relinquish control of Gaza. The UK emphasized the need for urgent steps to ease movement restrictions, facilitate trade, and improve economic opportunities in the West Bank to support stability and the prospects for a future Palestinian state.