UK to announce sanctions over Israeli West Bank settlements
UK to announce sanctions over Israeli West Bank settlements
Andy Burnham has come under fire from the US and Israel over “irrational” plans for sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is expected to announce the restrictions when he sets out a “reset” of the UK’s relations with Israel in a Commons statement on Tuesday, as part of a toughened stance under Mr Burnham’s Government.
The Prime Minister discussed the Middle East with US President Donald Trump in a phone call on Monday ahead of the intervention, which risks drawing criticism from Washington, Israel’s closest ally. The prospect of the move has already prompted suggestions of retaliation from US and Israeli figures, and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called it an “irrational action”.
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Andy Burnham (Image: Getty)
Mr Huckabee said: “I feel like it’s discrimination against the Israeli government. It’s a discrimination against the Jewish people.”
He told the BBC’s Today programme: “I also would tell you that I don’t know if they have thought it through. It’s like throwing a stone and not having an idea of where it’s going to land.
“And I realise, look, the UK is a sovereign country; they can do what they want, but so is the US.”
Meanwhile Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar warned: “If Britain acts against Israel, Israel will act against Britain.”
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said Mr Burnham’s move was “performative posturing” and difficult to implement because of the issue of distinguishing goods from the West Bank from those from the rest of Israel.
But Cabinet minister Pat McFadden insisted the coming measures would be “specifically targeted”.
Labour lost the support of many of its left-wing backers under Sir Keir Starmer over his initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza following Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel in 2023.
Mr Burnham, who was among senior party figures to have called for a ceasefire by late October that year, previously suggested he would change the Government’s approach to the conflict soon after coming to office in July.
He has voiced particular concerns about the E1 settlement, where Israel has given final approval for a controversial project that would effectively separate the occupied West Bank from East Jerusalem.
Concerns have also been raised about the impact on the Jewish community in the UK and security co-operation with Israel.
Labour MP Peter Prinsley, the vice chairman of Labour Friends of Israel, meanwhile he had told the Foreign Secretary he was concerned about the risks of such a move.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “My fear is that opponents of Israel won’t distinguish between Israeli government policy, Zionistic political philosophy and British Jews.
“As far as they’re concerned, the whole thing’s the same, and I think it carries a real risk of increased chances of attacks on the British Jewish community.”