Jerusalem Official Proposes Renaming King George Street Over UK Sanctions
A senior Jerusalem official is calling to rename King George Street, a major thoroughfare in the city, in response to recent British government actions against Israel. Arieh King, deputy mayor of Jerusalem and chairman of the street naming committee, submitted a request to Mayor Moshe Leon to change the street's name, which honors King George V. King explicitly linked this initiative to what he described as an escalation in British policy towards Israel, arguing that London's measures against Israeli government policy and activities in parts of Jerusalem necessitate a reevaluation of the British monarch's commemoration in the capital's public spaces.
The proposal follows the British government's announcement of upcoming measures targeting West Bank settlements. These include a potential ban on imports from settlements and new legislation empowering British ministers to impose targeted sanctions on individuals, companies, and organizations involved in funding, supporting, or building settlements. These measures are not immediate, with legal and regulatory processes expected to take months. The import ban would apply to physical goods, not services, and sanctions would be applied individually rather than being a blanket prohibition. Officials estimate the measures may not take effect before Israeli elections, possibly not until next year.
British Foreign Secretary David Lidington cited settlement expansion and tenders for construction in E1, which the UK called a "red line," as reasons for the planned actions. London maintains these measures are directed at settlements, not Israel proper, and aim to preserve the viability of a two-state solution. The British move has garnered broader international support, with 12 countries, including Canada, France, and Scandinavian nations, announcing intentions to implement or consider national restrictions on trade with settlements.
King's proposal is seen as a symbolic gesture within this diplomatic dispute, suggesting the name "Navel of the Land," from the Book of Ezekiel, to replace King George's name. He argues this name reflects Jerusalem's central position in the Land of Israel and the street's location in the city's heart. King noted that neither the Israeli government nor a Jewish municipality after the state's establishment decided to honor the king, pointing to precedents in Haifa and Beersheba where streets named after King George were renamed. This is not King's first attempt to use public space naming for political messaging, having previously proposed changes related to disputes with France and UNRWA.
