Key facts
- Labour has announced a policy shift to impose trade sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
- Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated that internal critics accusing the party of failing to defend Palestinians were correct.
- Miliband accused Israel's government of "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians by settlers.
- The sanctions move was followed by similar actions from Canada and France.
- Israel announced the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem as retaliation for the sanctions.
The UK Labour party has signaled a significant shift in its policy regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announcing the imposition of trade sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This move, made at Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, directly addresses internal critics who had accused the party of insufficient action in defending Palestinians.
Miliband's announcement marked an escalation in the British government's rhetoric, as he accused Israel's government of turning a blind eye to the "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians by settlers. This stance is seen by some within the party as a necessary step to repair electoral damage, particularly among constituencies with high Muslim populations that had previously turned away from Labour.
However, the decision has not been without controversy, sparking anger among some colleagues, including Jewish Labour members, and leading to charges of diplomatic recklessness. Miliband's team has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter. The policy shift comes after criticism of former leader Keir Starmer's perceived slow response to Israel's actions following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.
Despite the internal divisions, some Labour MPs and party members view the sanctions as a positive development. Jess Phillips described it as a "beginning of building back trust," while Emily Thornberry stated that the government "has finally done the right thing." Labour MP Rachael Maskell noted that voters are "really engaging" with the policy shift, which she believes is based on "values."
Sources indicated that Miliband was urged to delay the announcement until after Israeli elections, fearing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might exploit the move. However, Miliband reportedly insisted on proceeding, citing a "moral emergency" and suggesting the timing was influenced by the Labour conference and an upcoming by-election. Allies in Canada and France have since made similar moves, and a UK minister argued that Britain had facilitated new conversations at the UN General Assembly.
Israel's retaliation has so far been relatively restrained, with the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem announced, though intelligence cooperation is expected to continue. Donald Trump has also appeared calm about the sanctions. Nevertheless, some on the left of the party, like lawmaker Nadia Whittome, continue to call for more stringent measures, including a complete arms embargo and wider economic sanctions on Israel.