First minister backs UK government action on West Bank settlements

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has welcomed the sanctions announced by the UK government on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The UK government made the decision while accusing Israel’s government of turning a blind eye to the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians by settlers.

Ap Iorwerth said it was “good to see” the UK part of an international coalition putting “pressure” on the Israeli government.

He said the UK government under Sir Keir Starmer had moved “far too slowly in its response to the illegal activities of the Israeli government”.

Israel’s leaders rejected allegations of genocide and war crimes, saying their forces had operated in accordance with international law.

On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the sanctions marked the “beginning of a new approach” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which “not only calls out injustice and suffering but acts”.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded by accusing Miliband of spreading an “outrageous lie” and announced counter-measures including shutting the UK’s consulate in East Jerusalem.

The UK sanctions will ban settlement goods but also act against companies and individuals providing services for settlement expansion.

Speaking to BBC Wales, the first minister said: “What we have seen in recent years, unfortunately, is the UK government moving far too slowly in its response to [the] illegal activities of the Israeli government.

“We need to see international pressure being brought to bear on the Israeli government.

“It’s good to see that an international coalition is building around this.”

“This should have happened much, much sooner, but we welcome it as a positive step,” ap Iorwerth added.

The Welsh government does not have control over foreign affairs as that power lies with ministers in Westminster.