Two advocacy organizations, the Labour Muslim Network (LMN) and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), have released a formal legal briefing titled "Priority Measures for UK Policy on Palestine." The document calls upon the British government to take "urgent and comprehensive" action in response to Israel’s E1 settlement project, which has long been a point of international contention due to its potential impact on the viability of a future Palestinian state.

This call to action arrives as the administration of Prime Minister Andy Burnham prepares to unveil a series of new policy measures regarding Israel. While specific details of these upcoming government actions have not been fully disclosed, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband signaled potential shifts in policy during statements made last month. The briefing serves as a pressure point for the government to adopt a more robust stance against settlement expansion as it finalizes its new diplomatic approach.

The E1 project, located in the West Bank, has been a subject of significant debate for years. Critics argue that construction in this area would effectively sever the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, making a contiguous Palestinian state impossible. Conversely, supporters of settlement expansion often cite historical and security-related justifications for development in the region. The legal briefing from LMN and ICJP aims to frame the UK's response through the lens of international legal obligations, urging the government to move beyond rhetoric and implement concrete policy changes.