Ban on goods from occupied West Bank would help protect two-state solution, says Emily Thornberry – UK politics live

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Head of foreign affairs select committee urges government to adopt ban amid rising settler violence, after foreign secretary rebukes Israel over construction tender</p><p>After Emily Thornberry’s call for the government to ban goods from the occupied West Bank (see post at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/aug/21/andy-burnham-growth-labour-john-healey-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6a881da88f08582f535310ee#block-6a881da88f08582f535310ee">11:05</a>), <strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/peterbeaumont">Peter Beaumont</a></strong><em><strong> </strong></em>and<em><strong> </strong></em><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/quique-kierszenbaum">Quique Kierszenbaum</a></strong> report on how Israeli settler attacks in areas designated for a future Palestinian state and currently under direct Palestinian control have almost doubled since 2025.</p><p>They wrote:</p><p>According to a <a href="https://www.yesh-din.org/en/the-next-frontier_eng">report by the Israeli human rights organisation Yesh Din</a>, shared with the Guardian, data shows that almost two-thirds of incidents of settler violence so far in 2026 have taken place in the so-called Areas A and B – placed under Palestinian Authority governance in the 1995 Oslo accords.</p><p>The report, The Next Frontier, Violence by Israeli Civilians in Areas A and B, describes the “rapid shift” in “violence and pressure exerted by the government, military and settlers on Palestinians … from Area C into Areas B and even A”.</p><p>No 10 North is putting more power into every postcode across the country so communities can unleash and unlock their own potential.</p><p>I’m bringing together mayors from different political parties to work on these challenges, because people deserve problem-solving rather than point-scoring.</p><p>The days of Westminster hoarding power are over.</p><p>This government has kickstarted the biggest transition of power and resources in a generation, taking it from Whitehall and putting it back in the hands of local communities.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/aug/21/andy-burnham-growth-labour-john-healey-uk-politics-latest-news-updates">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.