UK Imposes Sanctions on West Bank Settlements, Israel Fires Back
The United Kingdom announced today a new sanctions regime aimed at illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, accusing Israel’s government of enabling what it calls ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by settlers.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the move was "the beginning of a new approach" to the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict that would actively confront injustice and suffering. He warned that the expansion of settlements, especially the planned 1,200‑home E1 development east of Jerusalem, would make a two‑state solution unviable.
The sanctions will bar the import of settlement‑related goods and sanction companies and individuals that provide services for settlement expansion. The UK also lifted sanctions on the financing arm of Hezbollah and imposed new measures against Iran.
The policy was rolled out alongside joint announcements from France, Canada, and a coalition of European allies. They described the action as a "turning point" in protecting a two‑state solution.
In a dramatic counter‑action, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Miliband of spreading an "outrageous lie" and ordered the closure of the UK consulate in East Jerusalem. He also barred 11 UK MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn and all five sitting Green Party MPs, from entering Israel, accusing them of antisemitic and anti‑Israel activity.
The UK’s stance was met with mixed reactions. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called the sanctions a "dark day" for British Jews, while leaders from the Board of Deputies of British Jews urged that the UK stay focused on national rather than partisan interests. Conservative shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat criticized the policy as ineffective.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned that the sanctions would “fall on the wrong side of history” and could harm Palestinians, arguing for a constructive dialogue instead of punitive measures.
The UK also announced it would stop training Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria and remove UK representatives from the International Gaza Support Centre in Kiryat Gat. The sanctions come amid increased settler attacks on Palestinians following the Gaza war sparked by Hamas on 7 October 2023.
Overall, the UK’s new sanctions signal a hardening stance on settlement expansion, while Israel’s aggressive response underscores the heightened tensions surrounding the conflict. The global community watches closely as the situation evolves.
