The UK has declared Israeli settlers terrorists for carrying out ethnic cleansing against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and announced new sanctions targeting Israeli settlements.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Parliament that the British government recognizes ethnic cleansing in parts of the West Bank and described those responsible as “settler terrorists.”

The UK will introduce several measures against settlement activity, including:

• Banning imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
• Sanctioning services linked to settlement construction and financing.
• Prohibiting UK advertising for properties in illegal settlements.
• Imposing personal sanctions on individuals accused of promoting settler violence.
• Restricting arms licences and other exports that materially support the occupation.

Miliband also said the UK now considers Israel’s occupation of the West Bank unlawful in its entirety.

He said the new measures were prompted in part by Israel’s plans to expand the E1 settlement area east of Jerusalem. The project could divide the West Bank and further affect prospects for a future Palestinian state.

Israel rejected the British accusations. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called Miliband’s statements “outrageous lies” and accused the UK government of working against Israel.

Saar announced retaliatory measures, including closing the UK consulate in Jerusalem and removing Britain from the US-led Gaza coordination mission.

The UK is among 12 countries that announced sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The group also includes Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

Miliband said the legislation needed to enforce the trade restrictions and sanctions is expected to be in place within nine months.