London mayor welcomes government ban on trade with Israeli settlers

London Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the British government’s announcement Tuesday to impose a ban on trade in goods from illegal West Bank settlements, which he called a "significant obstacle" to peace. "It’s never been clearer: illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land are a significant obstacle to peace," he wrote on US social media platform X. He said that there can be no two-state solution if there is no viable state left to call Palestine. "That’s why the UK Government is right to take strong action and impose a ban on trade in goods from these settlements," Khan noted. Khan also praised growing pressure on Israel to recognize and respect the rights of Palestinians as settlers are inflicting "terrible violence" against Palestinians on a daily basis. The mayor's remarks came after UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Tuesday marked the "beginning of a new approach" on Israel, announcing that the UK would introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements.