The British Liberal Democrats a major party have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a ban on UK trade with the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The motion that was passed by the party at its annual conference included its “commitment to immediate recognition of Palestine as a sovereign independent state by the UK government based on the 1967 lines.”
The motion also called on the UK government to prohibit companies from operating in the illegal settlements in the occupied territories and to ensure that Palestinians receive the same treatment as Israelis regarding visa-free travel to the UK.
Ambassador Husam Zomlot head of the Palestinian mission to the UK participated in the conference and applauded the motion as “a good first step”.
He urged other UK parties not only to follow suit but also to adopt policies that enforce British and international law pertaining to Israel’s illegal colonial settlements and apartheid practices.
