UK imposes sanctions on Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the government agreed that "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians was being carried out by settler terrorists, accusing Israel's government of turning a blind eye to the activity and supporting forced displacement
Britain has announced a package of sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying the measures are intended to counter forced displacement of Palestinians and protect prospects for a two-state solution.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the government agreed that "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians was being carried out by settler terrorists, accusing Israel's government of turning a blind eye to the activity and supporting forced displacement, says the BBC
Miliband cited the United Nations definition of ethnic cleansing and referred to a 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice, which found Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory unlawful and said its settlement policies and attempts to extend permanent sovereignty violated international law.
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The British government said a key trigger for the measures was Israel's opening of tenders for about 1,200 settlement homes in the E1 area east of Jerusalem.
Miliband said construction in E1 would make a two-state solution "unviable" by cutting through Palestinian territory.
The measures will include restrictions on settlement goods and target companies and individuals providing services linked to settlement expansion. Britain said the trade and economic restrictions would be introduced over the next six to nine months.
Britain will also prohibit advertising for illegal West Bank settlements in the United Kingdom.
The sanctions were announced jointly with France and Canada. Britain also joined 11 other countries — France, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden — in a statement committing to national measures or European trade restrictions targeting goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The British government said the measures were aimed at supporting a two-state solution rather than targeting Israel's wider population.
Alongside the settlement measures, Miliband announced sanctions against Hezbollah's financial wing and new restrictions on Iran aligned with the United States and European Union.
Israel announces retaliatory measures
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned Miliband's statement as an "outrageous lie" and accused Britain's Labour government of pursuing a consistently hostile policy towards Israel.
Israel ordered the closure of Britain's consulate in East Jerusalem, which represents Britain in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.
It also barred 11 British lawmakers from entering Israel, including Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott, as well as all five sitting Green Party MPs. Israel accused them of antisemitic and anti-Israel actions.
Israel further announced the removal of British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat and said it would end British activities training Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog described Britain's decision as "gross interference" in democratic elections, saying the sanctions would not resolve the conflict and would instead directly harm Palestinians.
Mixed reaction in Britain and abroad
Britain's Jewish community and opposition politicians criticised the sanctions.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis described the announcement as a "dark day for British Jews", arguing that the measures amounted to political flag-bearing that could embolden anti-Jewish hatred.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews also expressed deep regret over the decision.
Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat said the policy would be ineffective, while acknowledging that illegal settlements and incitement by some Israeli ministers were wrong.
The Palestinian presidency welcomed the sanctions as an important step towards confronting what it described as Israel's colonial system.
The United States said it would not follow Britain's approach. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would not adopt the same measures.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee warned that Washington could respond with measures that would have a "huge economic impact on British businesses" at both federal and state levels.
