The British government announced that it will introduce a ban on trade with Israel’s settlements on 8 September 2026, alongside 11 other states who either have already or will be doing likewise.
Caabu has advocated for such a measure for decades believing it is one of several measures that may be necessary to compel Israel to bring itself into line with international law.
Press Releases
Caabu welcomes UK ban on Israeli settlement trade in meeting with Foreign Secretary – 8 September 2026
Caabu welcomes significant UK shift towards ending Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestine – 9 September 2026
Caabu writes to UK Foreign Secretary about trade ban with illegal Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights - 11 September 2026
Letters to the Press
Chris Doyle Letter to The Times on a Settlement Trade Ban - 27 August 2026
Articles
Time for Europe including UK to ban trade with Israeli settlements – Arab News, June 2026 Article in Arab News June 2026
Burnham should commit to 5 Pledges for Palestine - Labour Outlook, July 2026
Why a UK ban with Israeli settlements matters - Arab News, August 2026
Miliband has decisively broken with decades of UK inaction on Palestine – Middle East Eye, September 2026
Shift in British policy on Israel is palpable – Al Jazeera, September 2026
Public Advocacy
Caabu has released a number of public statements calling for successive UK governments to implement a trade ban with illegal Israeli settlements to end UK complicity in violations of the human rights of Palestinians as well as to ensure the viability of a Palestinian state. Some of these statements can be found below.
- https://www.caabu.org/news/news/uk-government-should-suspend-uk-israel-trade-deal-over-death-penalty-law-palestinians-say
- https://www.caabu.org/news/news/16-ngos-call-uk-government-end-complicity-violations-palestinian-human-rights
- https://www.caabu.org/news/news/caabu-statement-superdrug-stopping-its-sales-ahava-cosmetics-illegal-settlements
- https://www.caabu.org/news/press-release/caabu-press-release-uk-recognition-palestinian-state-will-mean-nothing-if-0
- https://www.caabu.org/news/news/sanctions-israeli-settlers-and-israeli-settler-groups
Opinion Polls
Caabu has commissioned opinion polls showing that the British public backs a settlement trade ban.
Reports
Trading Away Peace: EU imports 15 times more from illegal Israeli settlements than from Palestinians - October 2012
Delegations
Caabu has organised 39 delegations to Palestine since 2010. Many of these delegations included current senior members of the government, including the current Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Caabu took Andy Burnham to the site of E1 in September 2012. In 2016, Caabu also took Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Solicitor General Andy Slaughter to Palestine. In 2018, it also took Louise Haigh, First Secretary of State, Chancellor the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office. In 2014, Caabu provided assistance to LFPME when they took former Leader of the Labour Party and current Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband to Palestine, including Khan al Ahmar, a visit which he mentioned in his speech announcing the settlement trade ban.
Parliament
Caabu through the secretariat APPG Palestine has worked on this issue for many years with numerous events over the last 20 years. For instance, our recent briefing on how the UK can learn from settlement trade bans from other European partners can be watched here.
Caabu has submitted many briefings to MPs that they have used during debates and questions in the house. Caabu contributed to this debate through such briefings.
Caabu board member Alistair Carmichael urges ban of Israeli settlement goods, 2 May 2023
Caabu has supported in organising letters from parliamentarians that have called on successive governments to implement a trade ban.
In February 2025, 60 MPs and Peers demanded a government ban on Israeli settlement goods.
In March 2026, 119 MPs called on a total ban on all trade and interaction with illegal settlements.
In June 2026, 238 MPs supported a ban on trade and financial dealings with illegal Israeli settlements. In August 2026, this figure was revised to 246 following additional support from MPs.
In February 2025, Caabu submitted evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, which reiterated the need to implement a settlement trade ban.