theguardian.com
UK accuses Israeli ‘terrorists’ of ethnic cleansing in West Bank with government backing
In strongest condemnation ever by UK government, Ed Miliband announces sweeping sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements
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UK politics live – latest updates
Israeli “terrorists” are conducting ethnic cleansing in the West Bank with the tacit backing of the government, the UK foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, has said as he announced sweeping sanctions, alongside France and Canada, on trade with Israeli settlements.
In the strongest condemnation ever issued by the UK government, Miliband said the government would now take the official position that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank was unlawful in its entirety, saying such acknowledgment was “the least the people who face such suffering deserve. And it should be the prelude to justice.”
An import ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories.
A comprehensive sanctions regime against providing services such as construction or financing for Israeli settlements.
A ban on the advertising in the UK of illegal settlement properties.
Personal sanctions against key individuals accused of promoting settler violence.
A new ban for arms licences and other exports that “materially contribute to the occupation”. Continue reading...
![RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearing before Senate Finance Committee (January 29, 2025):
Mr. Kennedy. In 2018, two more kids died following the MMR vaccine. And
the government in Samoa banned the MMR vaccine. I arrived a year later
when vaccination rates were already below the – below any – any
previous level. I went there, nothing to do with vaccines. I went
there to introduce a medical informatics system with digitalized
records in Samoa and make health delivery much more efficient. I never taught or gave any public statement about vaccines.
RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearing before Senate Health Committee (January 30, 2025):
Senator Markey. Thank you. Yesterday under oath, you told
my colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee that when you
went to Samoa in June 2019, it, quote, ``had nothing to do with
vaccines.'' Will you confirm again today that the trip had
nothing to do with vaccines?
Mr. Kennedy. My purpose in going down there had nothing to
do with vaccines.
Senator Markey. Well, I have in my hand a blog post in
2021, in which you say the anti-vaccine group Children's Health
Defense, which you ran, offered to fund the purpose of the trip
to Samoa. And in the same post you state that the trip was
ultimately arranged by an anti-vaccine activist. And during the
trip you met with an activist who later compared vaccine
mandates to Nazi Germany. And during that trip you also
discussed vaccines with the Prime Minister and the director
general of health of Samoa. The Director General of Health said
you specifically discussed your views on vaccine safety fears.
And with unanimous consent, I will submit those blog posts, Mr.
Chairman, into the record.
The Chair. Without objection.
[The following information can be found on page 131 in
Additional Material:]
Senator Markey. I am going to ask you--I will ask you
again. Did the trip have nothing to do with vaccines as you
told my colleagues [inaudible]?
Mr. Kennedy. Nothing to do with …](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mcxwgi6ytwp72kzqmujcixep/bafkreigdwrjlxt3bk53ddnttfbduzaqxsuutl37zpyligfzt2j3be6kta4)
