Miliband rejects chief rabbi's claim on West Bank sanctions safety

Key facts

• UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband rejected Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis's warning that sanctions on Israeli settlements could endanger British Jews.
• Miliband stated that blaming British Jews for the actions of the Israeli government is antisemitism.
• The UK government announced sanctions on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, coordinated with allies.
• Israel responded by closing the British consulate in Jerusalem and banning 12 British MPs and activists.
• Sanctions include import bans, export restrictions, and personal sanctions against individuals involved in settler violence.

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has rejected warnings from Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis that the government's sanctions against illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank could make British Jews less safe. Miliband stated that holding British Jews responsible for the actions of the Israeli government constitutes antisemitism, emphasizing that it is possible to condemn the occupation and fight antisemitism simultaneously.

The foreign secretary announced sweeping sanctions on Tuesday, which were coordinated with France, Canada, and nine other countries. These measures target trade with settlements deemed unlawful by the UK government, aiming to protect the two-state solution and British values.

Sir Ephraim Mirvis had described the sanctions as a "dark day for British Jews" and warned they could embolden those who "use hatred as a weapon against Jews." Miliband, identifying as a "proud British Jew," disagreed with this assessment, stating on BBC Radio 4's Today programme that anyone blaming British Jews for the Israeli government's actions is engaging in antisemitism.

In response to the sanctions, Israel ordered the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem and banned 12 British MPs and activists from entering the country. Miliband acknowledged that the consulate closure would be "damaging" but asserted that the government had weighed the costs and benefits in advance. He also commented on the US position, stating he would "let our American friends speak for themselves" but noted international frustration with the Israeli government's actions.

The government's sanctions package includes an import ban on goods from illegal settlements, a ban on arms licenses and exports that materially contribute to the occupation, a comprehensive sanctions regime for services related to settlements, and personal sanctions against individuals accused of promoting settler violence.