UK Defends Ban on West Bank Settlement Goods, Israel Vows Retaliation

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended his government's decision to ban trade with Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria, stating that London must act to preserve the two-state solution. He clarified on social media that the "targeted and carefully considered measures" are not aimed at the Israeli people but at "unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government." The UK announced three key actions: prohibiting trade in goods from settlements it deems illegal, formally recognizing the illegality of the "occupation of Palestinian territories," and imposing sanctions on individuals and companies profiting from or facilitating settlement development. Sanctions will also target entities involved in the E1 construction project near Jerusalem, which Burnham believes would sever the West Bank and destroy hopes for a two-state solution.

Burnham also announced additional humanitarian aid for Gaza. While condemning the October 7 Hamas attack, he asserted it does not justify the Israeli government's subsequent actions in Gaza and Judea and Samaria. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, in agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announced the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem and a series of retaliatory measures. These include excluding British representatives from the International Coordination Center for Gaza in Kiryat Gat and ending British training activities for Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria. Israel will also ban entry for twelve British nationals accused of antisemitic or anti-Israel activities.

Earlier, Israeli President Isaac Herzog had urged London to reconsider, calling the sanctions a "grave miscalculation" and "blatant interference" in Israeli elections. UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis also strongly condemned the decision, calling it "a dark day for British Jews" and warning that the measures could legitimize anti-Israel rhetoric rather than promote peace. Burnham rejected any conflation of Israeli policy with the British Jewish community, stating that holding British Jews responsible for Prime Minister Netanyahu's government's actions is "simply antisemitism."