Britain is preparing to impose fresh restrictions on goods sourced from Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. This move signals a significant and deliberate shift in UK foreign policy.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is set to detail these new measures in the Commons on Tuesday, according to the BBC. These proposals could specifically include curbs on agricultural products originating from the contentious settlements. Miliband had previously promised a “comprehensive reset” of Britain’s broader Israel policy only last week.
The Israeli government has already issued warnings of potential retaliation should these new restrictions come into force. All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law. Recent months have also seen a disturbing surge in violence against Palestinians by settlers across the territory.
One minister, speaking anonymously to the BBC, described the upcoming statement as “a complete reset of the nature of our Israel-Palestine relationship.” They added that, post-announcement, “It will all feel very different.” Labour MPs, who have been briefed on the proposals, anticipate that the sanctions will target both goods and services from these illegal settlements.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham personally confirmed Miliband’s impending statement to Labour MPs at their weekly parliamentary meeting on Monday night. Burnham is also reported to have briefed various international leaders about these plans during phone calls that Monday afternoon. He spoke directly with US President Donald Trump, during which the prime minister stressed the importance of a two-state solution in the Middle East.
No 10’s official account of the Trump call did not explicitly mention Burnham briefing the US President on the sanctions. The United States has not yet commented on the matter. However, Washington is widely expected to strongly oppose the proposed restrictions.
Stephen Doughty, now Middle East minister, had previously called for expanded sanctions powers in July. He told the business select committee that existing authority allowed action only where there was “evidence of it being linked to settler violence.” It did not, he noted, cover “a contractor working on the settlements.”
While ministers are said to recognise that banning a relatively small quantity of mostly agricultural products is a largely symbolic gesture, this announcement will be framed as a major reset in Britain’s wider policy on Israel. The diplomatic message is clear, even if the economic impact is modest.
This anticipated UK government announcement follows Israel’s recent opening of tenders for 1,200 new settlement homes in the strategically vital E1 area. Situated east of Jerusalem, these expansion plans have drawn widespread international condemnation. Israel had historically held off on building in this sensitive area for decades under global pressure.
The world now awaits Foreign Secretary Miliband’s Commons statement on Tuesday. It will reveal the full extent of Britain’s “new” relationship with Israel, and the precise nature of the diplomatic fallout to follow.
