The United Kingdom’s government plans to introduce measures related to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced last week. Speaking to the House of Commons, Miliband stated he would present a “comprehensive set of measures” in the coming weeks, specifically referencing the E1 settlement project.
The announcement signals a potential policy adjustment under the new Labour government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, which took office in July. Miliband linked the planned actions to the government’s stance on a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.
“This government will not acquiesce in the destruction of the two-state solution,” Miliband told Parliament. “We will act.”
The E1 project, if completed, would connect the Ma’ale Adumim settlement with Jerusalem, potentially dividing the West Bank. Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law, a position Israel contests. Last month, the UK joined 21 other countries and the European Commission in a statement calling on Israel to “retract these plans immediately and end its expansion of settlements in the West Bank.”
The proposed measures follow previous actions taken by the UK. In June, under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the government, in coordination with France and Canada, sanctioned six entities and one individual. A government statement at the time described them as being “involved in financing, enabling and carrying out settler violence in the occupied West Bank.”
Israeli officials have responded to the potential new measures. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told Israeli news outlet Ynet that the UK would be “making a big mistake” if it proceeded. “If they act… Israel will act against Britain,” Saar said. Additionally, Israeli media reported last month that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the UK as the “Islamic Republic of Britain” in comments criticizing British media coverage of Israel.
Advocacy groups have also commented on the announcement. Zena Agha, a policy analyst with the British Palestinian Committee, told Al Jazeera that while the proposed trade restrictions were a step in the “right direction,” she described them as the “bare minimum.” Agha questioned whether the sanctions would result in “an actual meaningful impact on the way that the Israeli military occupation operates.”
Shamiul Joarder of Friends of Al-Aqsa, a UK-based group, advocated for a full trade ban with Israel. He stated that Britain needs to “pull the levers where they need to, in order to ensure that we are abiding by international law.”
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has not yet released specific details on what the measures will entail or when they will be formally announced.
