The UK has moved to sanction trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, prompting condemnation from Israel's president and foreign minister, while Andy Burnham said Britain will 'continue to act in support of our values'.
Key facts
- The UK launched trade sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to the Guardian.
- Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar claimed the UK was 'systemically working against the state of Israel'.
- Israeli president Isaac Herzog warned Britain would be 'on the wrong side of history' if it banned trade with the settlements.
- Andy Burnham said Britain will 'continue to act in support of our values'.
- The Guardian's coverage also referenced UK accusations relating to alleged ethnic cleansing by Israeli 'terrorists' in the West Bank with government backing.
Britain has launched trade sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a move that has escalated tensions between the two governments, according to the Guardian’s live coverage of UK politics.
The measures target what the Guardian describes as illegal settlements in the area also referred to as Judea and Samaria. The Guardian’s coverage referenced UK accusations that Israeli ‘terrorists’ had carried out ethnic cleansing in the West Bank with government backing; the full basis and detail of that accusation were not set out in the available source.
The decision drew strong reactions from senior Israeli figures. Gideon Saar, Israel’s foreign minister, claimed the UK was ‘systemically working against the state of Israel’. Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president, warned that Britain would be ‘on the wrong side of history’ if it went ahead with plans to ban trade with the settlements.
Herzog described the potential move as ‘a grave miscalculation’, adding that other nations may join Britain in taking similar action. ‘If this happens – and other nations may join – I believe it will prove to be a grave miscalculation, a decision that will fall on the wrong side of history,’ he said.
Responding to the developments, Andy Burnham said Britain will ‘continue to act in support of our values’, signalling support for the government’s stance despite the criticism from Israeli leaders.
Separately, the Guardian reported that the Liberal Democrats were granted a Commons urgent question over the latest Argentinian threats to the Falkland Islands, with a Foreign Office minister due to respond at about 12.30pm.
Why it matters
The sanctions mark a notable step in UK policy toward Israeli settlements and could strain diplomatic relations between London and Jerusalem. With Israeli leaders warning that other nations may follow Britain's lead, the move could add to wider international pressure over the West Bank.
Frequently asked questions
What action has the UK taken against Israel?
According to the Guardian, the UK launched trade sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, described as illegal settlements in the area referred to as Judea and Samaria.
How has Israel responded?
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar claimed the UK was 'systemically working against the state of Israel', while president Isaac Herzog warned Britain would be 'on the wrong side of history'.
What did Andy Burnham say?
Andy Burnham said Britain will 'continue to act in support of our values' following the launch of the sanctions.