Muslim and Arab nations praise British sanctions on Israeli settlements

More than half a dozen Arab and Islamic countries have praised Britain's decision to place sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told MPs the move marked a needed 'new approach' due to plans for the E1 development in the area. The controversial project would see the occupied West Bank cut off from East Jerusalem and split the area in two. He also insisted that Britain would not 'stand by' while Benjamin Netanyahu 's government used the creation of 'illegal' settlements to destroy the prospect of a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis. The sanctions sparked a diplomatic row, with Israel accusing Labour of 'outrageous lies' and announcing it was shutting the British consulate in Jerusalem, alongside banning a dozen MPs. Now eight Arab and Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia , Qatar , Egypt , Indonesia , Jordan, Pakistan , the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, have welcomed the sanctions. The foreign ministers of the respective countries praised the UK ban on 'the imports of goods from illegal Israeli settlements' as well as restrictions on services linked to such areas in the West Bank. In a statement , they called for other countries to take similar actions 'in line with international law and hold' organisations and individuals involved in Israeli settlements accountable. More than half a dozen Arab and Islamic countries have praised Britain's decision to place sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank (Pictured: The E1 area near Maale Adumim, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank targeted for development) Israel accused Labour of 'outrageous lies' after Ed Miliband, pictured in the Commons yesterday, announced sanctions on Israel Britain's Chief Rabbi said a trade ban on Israeli settlements in the West Bank was 'truly a dark day for British Jews' They also praised the joint statement on the Two-State Solution from Britain, France , Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Canada on Tuesday. The countries announced their plans to introduce or support restrictions on European trade with Israeli settlements as they accused Israel of 'undermining the possibility of a two-State solution'. The statement from the European countries and Canada said the ' situation is rapidly deteriorating amid unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion, including the unacceptable decision to publish tenders for the E1 settlement project.' They called on Israel to 'immediately halt the expansion of settlements and civilian administrative powers, to ensure accountability regarding settler violence and to allow a probe into allegations against Israeli forces.' 'The two-state solution must be protected, and we will take action in pursuit of a just and lasting peace, based on the principles enshrined in the New York Declaration adopted one year ago,' they added. 'We firmly oppose actions tantamount to the annexation of Palestinian land and forcible displacement of the Palestinian population.' They concluded that they were 'clear in [their] determination to tackle antisemitism wherever it occurs', insisting they were 'unequivocally committed to the two-state solution' so that Israel and Palestine can 'live side by side in peace'. Meanwhile, the statement from the eight Islamic and Arab nations praised the move, adding it would ' encourage the international community to build on these steps and adopt concrete measures to bring an end to activities that support or sustain illegal Israeli settlements.' They reiterated calls for Israel to rescind all measures in relation to the settlements as well as other actions intended to alter 'the geographic and demographic character' of the Palestinian territory. They also called for the implementation of President Donald Trump's Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict 'to ensure security and stability, address the humanitarian situation, facilitate reconstruction and recovery, and lay the foundations for lasting peace'. 'The Ministers underscore that the only viable path to achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace is the implementation of the two-State solution, through the realisation of an independent, sovereign, contiguous, and viable Palestinian State, based on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions,' the statement read. It comes as Miliband also accused Israel of turning a 'blind eye' to ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by settlers amid his announcement of the sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank . Britain's Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, lambasted the trade ban on Israeli settlements, describing it as 'gesture politics' which would 'further embolden those, at home and abroad, who use hatred as a weapon against Jews'. Today, Miliband rejected Sir Ephraim's warnings that the sanctions marked a 'truly dark day for British Jews', retorting that he himself is a 'proud British Jew'. 'We all need to do more to tackle antisemitism,' Miliband told the BBC, 'but I believe we can do that and stand up for British values'. Yesterday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian leader Mark Carney warned in another joint declaration that the settlements 'pose a direct and urgent threat' to a two-state solution to the conflict. READ MORE: Israel hits back at Miliband and closes UK consulate, bars a dozen MPs and boots out military READ MORE: Ed Miliband's trade ban is in response to controversial settlement that risks killing off any hope of a two-state solution for Palestine