Israel's President Herzog Urges UK to Halt Sanctions on Settlements

Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday strongly condemned anticipated British sanctions against Israel, calling them a "grave error in judgment" and "blatant interference in the democratic elections of a sovereign state." He urged foreign governments to "stop! Stay away from the path of sanctions and boycotts," advocating instead for dialogue and cooperation. Herzog made these remarks at an event celebrating 30 years of Israeli participation in the European Union's "Horizon Europe" research program.

Reports indicate that the UK is actively seeking to persuade other nations, potentially including France, to join in imposing sanctions, which are expected to target Israeli settlements in the West Bank. British diplomats have reportedly informed the US that the initial sanctions will be largely symbolic, aiming to avoid significant impact on broader trade and security relations. However, the New York Times reported that the measures could include trade bans on products from settlements, including those in East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, and sanctions on companies involved in settlement construction.

The UK has recently signaled a policy shift regarding settlements, with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stating his government is examining measures to prevent trade with them. Israel is awaiting details on the scope of the sanctions, particularly whether they will be limited to economic measures against settlements or include personal sanctions against specific Israelis. There is an assessment that the European Union is less enthusiastic about adopting sanctions before elections, believing it could benefit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi stated that "if Britain acts against the State of Israel, the State of Israel will act against Britain," in response to potential sanctions related to construction plans in the E1 area, which could hinder the establishment of a Palestinian state.