Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has defended the UK's ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements, saying Britain could not stay silent despite Israel's response, which the Guardian reports included an order to close a UK consulate for 30 days.
Key facts
- Ed Miliband defended the UK's ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in a Commons statement.
- Miliband said the UK 'could not simply stand by because we feared Israeli reaction,' according to CNBC.
- Israel ordered a 30-day consulate closure in response, according to the Guardian and CNBC.
- Andy Burnham views the sanctions as an electoral asset, according to Guardian analysis.
- A survey cited by the Guardian found Labour, Lib Dem and Green voters were the strongest backers, with Tory and Reform voters also in favour overall.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has defended the government’s decision to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements, pushing back against criticism from the chief rabbi. According to the Guardian, Miliband set out the government’s case for the ban in a Commons statement it described as potentially one of the most significant of the year.
The Guardian reports that Miliband said he ‘regrets’ Israel’s response to the measures but is ‘proud’ of his actions. In its coverage, the Guardian reported that the UK government accused Israeli ‘terrorists’ of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank with government backing — a characterisation attributed to the UK government’s statement. The details of Israel’s own response, beyond the consulate closure, are not set out in the available sources.
Defending the move, Miliband told MPs the UK ‘could not simply stand by because we feared Israeli reaction,’ as reported by CNBC. The comments came after Israel ordered a 30-day closure of a UK consulate in response to the sanctions, according to the Guardian and CNBC.
Guardian analysis noted that there was a time when placing Israel under strict trade sanctions would have been a politically risky move for a British prime minister.
According to the Guardian, Andy Burnham considers the measure an electoral asset. When Kemi Badenoch attacked him over defence spending at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Burnham deliberately turned the topic to the trade ban on illegal settlements, which the Guardian says he had announced on Tuesday.
A survey cited by the Guardian found that Labour, Lib Dem and Green voters were the strongest backers of such a ban, while Tory and Reform voters were also in favour overall.
Why it matters
The measures mark a notable shift in UK policy toward Israel. With the Guardian reporting cross-party public support for the trade ban, the decision could affect both diplomatic relations and domestic political debate. This is a developing story and further detail on Israel's response was not available in the sources.
Frequently asked questions
What did Ed Miliband say about the sanctions?
Miliband said the UK 'could not simply stand by because we feared Israeli reaction.' He said he regrets Israel's response but is proud of his actions, according to CNBC and the Guardian.
How did Israel respond to the sanctions?
According to CNBC, Israel ordered a 30-day closure of a consulate in response to the UK's sanctions on trade with illegal settlements.
Do voters support the trade ban?
A survey cited by the Guardian found Labour, Lib Dem and Green voters were the strongest backers, but even Tory and Reform voters were in favour overall.