UK Prime Minister Explains Sanctions on Israeli Settlements, Citing Palestinian Suffering

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham directly addressed his government's new sanctions package against Israeli settlements, explaining London's significant policy shift regarding Israel. Burnham acknowledged that previous British governments had hesitated to take practical steps for fear of being perceived as anti-Israel. He stated in a post on X that for too long, Britain had "hesitated to act, out of fear they would accuse us of being anti-Israel," and that calls for a two-state solution lacked meaning without accompanying actions.

Burnham emphasized that the measures are not directed against the Israeli people but against the "unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government." He also spoke extensively about the war in Gaza, calling the suffering of the Palestinian people "a stain on the conscience of the world" and noting the ongoing humanitarian crisis. He asserted that Britain's response had been "too slow and simply not good enough" before he took office.

The Prime Minister dedicated a significant portion of his remarks to settlement construction in the West Bank, claiming that more settlements were approved during the current Netanyahu government's four-year term than in the preceding twenty years. He specifically highlighted the advancement of construction in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim, which the UK believes could harm the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian state. "The Israeli government is now allowing tenders for the construction of the giant E1 settlement to proceed. It will cut through the heart of the West Bank and extinguish the hope of realizing the two-state solution. This must not be allowed to happen," Burnham wrote.

Burnham detailed the new measures: a ban on trade in goods originating from settlements, sanctions on individuals and companies supporting or profiting from settlements, including those involved in the E1 project, and a formal change in Britain's legal position, now considering the "Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory" illegal. This policy shift is part of a broader change in British policy, with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announcing a "comprehensive reset." The full implementation of trade restrictions is expected to take six to nine months.

Britain has garnered international support, with 11 other countries, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden, issuing a joint statement committing to various levels of trade restrictions with settlements. Israel expressed surprise at the coalition's size and responded by closing the British Consulate in Jerusalem, expelling British representatives from a command center, halting British training of Palestinian Authority forces, and barring 12 British public figures from entering Israel. Foreign Minister Gidon Saar accused Britain of "blatant interference" in Israel's elections, stating, "Whoever acts against Israel, Israel will harm them." President Isaac Herzog also criticized the move as "blatant interference."

Burnham sought to distinguish between the Israeli government and its citizens, stating that the sanctions are not aimed at punishing the entire Israeli people. He also addressed concerns about harm to British Jews, calling any blame placed on them for the actions of the Netanyahu government "literally abhorrent" and "literally antisemitism." He reaffirmed his condemnation of the October 7th Hamas attack but stated it does not justify Israeli actions in Gaza or the West Bank, concluding that his government will continue working with international partners to preserve the hope for a two-state solution.