In a crowded session at the British Parliament on Tuesday, Members of Parliament gathered to witness the government’s recalibration of its ties with Israel. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, flanked by his cabinet members, attentively listened as Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who is of Jewish descent, disclosed the prohibition on trade with settlers from the occupied West Bank. Miliband mentioned that Canada and France would also implement similar measures. This announcement was met with applause in the parliamentary chamber. Miliband highlighted the joint efforts of the U.K., France, and Canada, along with other countries like the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, and Norway, in taking action against Israel’s ongoing expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The U.K. plans to target specific companies and individuals involved in activities such as construction, infrastructure, financing, or real estate for settlement expansion. Miliband emphasized that the U.K.’s actions were prompted by Israel crossing a significant threshold with its recent decision to open tenders for constructing 1,200 settler homes in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank.
Moreover, the U.K., Canada, and France formally recognized the state of Palestine a year ago. In a unified statement, the leaders reiterated their commitment to Israel’s security while advocating for a two-state solution for lasting peace and stability in the region. The decision to impose sanctions was justified by the continued settlement expansion in the West Bank, particularly the advancement of the E1 settlement by the Israeli government and the surge in settler violence, which pose a direct threat to the peace process.
On the other side, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denounced the British Foreign Secretary’s statements as falsehoods and promptly ordered the closure of the U.K.’s consulate in East Jerusalem. Israel also announced several retaliatory measures, including expelling U.K. representatives from a joint military center monitoring the Gaza ceasefire and terminating U.K. training of the Palestinian Authority’s security forces in the West Bank.
Jewish leaders in Canada and Britain expressed disapproval of the actions taken by the U.K., Canada, France, and other European nations. Amidst the escalating tensions, concerns were raised about the security of the Jewish community, particularly with the upcoming Jewish New Year festival of Rosh Hashanah. The U.K.’s Chief Rabbi and the Board of Deputies of British Jews voiced their apprehensions about potential risks faced by the British Jewish community.
The move to impose restrictions on trade with illegal settlements in the West Bank was also supported by other European countries. Palestinian authorities welcomed the stance taken by these nations, condemning the Israeli settlement expansion as a clear violation of international law. Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of State refrained from commenting on the joint action, emphasizing that the U.S. would not replicate the U.K.’s approach.
The evolving dynamics in the U.K.’s relationship with Israel were foreshadowed by Burnham’s inclination towards a reset even before assuming office as Prime Minister. Acknowledging past missteps in handling Israel’s military actions, Burnham vowed to lead a more informed and equitable approach under his leadership.