In a crowded British Parliament session on Tuesday, Members of Parliament convened to witness the government redefine its ties with Israel. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, accompanied by his cabinet ministers, attentively listened as newly appointed Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who is of Jewish descent, announced a prohibition on trade with settlers from the occupied West Bank. Miliband also revealed that Canada and France would implement similar measures in solidarity with Britain.
The announcement was met with enthusiastic applause in the parliamentary chamber. Miliband highlighted that several other countries, including the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, and Norway, have either already banned goods from illegal settlements or are in the process of doing so. He further stated that the UK would target specific companies and individuals involved in supporting settlement expansion through services like construction, infrastructure, financing, or real estate.
Regarding the decision to impose sanctions, Miliband mentioned that the UK took action due to Israel crossing a significant threshold by initiating the construction of 1,200 settler homes in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank. This move was deemed a violation of international law by the United Nations and most countries, as the settlements are considered illegal under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Moreover, the joint statement issued by Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with his British and French counterparts, emphasized a shared commitment to preserving a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. They underscored the importance of this solution for regional peace, stability, and security.
In response to the UK’s sanctions, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denounced the British accusations as “outrageous lies” and retaliated by closing the UK’s consulate in East Jerusalem and expelling UK representatives from a joint military monitoring center in Gaza. Israel also announced the cessation of UK training for the Palestinian Authority’s security forces in the West Bank and the prevention of entry for certain UK officials and citizens deemed to be involved in anti-Israel activities.
Jewish leaders in Canada and Britain criticized the actions taken by the UK, Canada, France, and other European countries. Notably, Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, expressed concern over the decisions, attributing them to domestic political considerations. The UK’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis described the situation as a “dark day for British Jews,” while the Board of Deputies of British Jews raised apprehensions about communal security ahead of the Jewish New Year festival of Rosh Hashanah.
The official Palestinian news agency welcomed the stance of the countries imposing sanctions, citing the escalation of Israeli settlements as a violation of international law. Meanwhile, in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio refrained from commenting on the joint action but made it clear that the U.S. would not follow the UK’s approach.
The shift in the UK’s policy towards Israel had been foreshadowed earlier, with Burnham signaling a reset in relations even before assuming office in July. He acknowledged and apologized for the Labour Party’s initial response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, expressing a commitment to a more informed and improved approach under his leadership.
