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Business: Israeli Settlements

Asked by Andy SlaughterLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 17 February 2025UIN 30064

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether it is his policy to not (a) encourage and (b) support UK businesses seeking involvement in (i) economic and (ii) financial activities in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Answered by Mr Douglas Alexander

The UK government has a clear position that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We do not encourage or offer support to economic and financial activity in the settlements, and our commitment to a two-state solution is unwavering, as is our commitment to international law. We advise British businesses to consider the UK government's stance towards settlements when considering their investments and activities in the region.

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