British Officials Warned Sanctions on Israel Could Aid Netanyahu Election Bid

Senior figures within the British diplomatic and security establishment warned the government against imposing sanctions on Israel, according to a report by The Spectator. These professionals advised the government not to necessarily abandon sanctions but to postpone them until after Israel's elections on October 27, arguing that any premature action could inadvertently interfere with Israeli domestic politics.

Israeli Foreign Minister G Gideon Sa'ar reportedly conveyed a similar message to his British counterpart, Ed Miliband, on August 11, requesting a delay until after the elections. The Israeli Embassy in London also communicated a similar sentiment, suggesting a wait-and-see approach given the possibility of a new government forming soon.

Despite these warnings, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the decision to impose sanctions before Parliament, citing concerns over the "final collapse" of the two-state solution. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband went further, speaking of "ethnic cleansing" in his statement to the House of Commons.

However, the article highlights that the position expressed by Sa'ar was not solely the Israeli stance. Former British Ambassador to Tel Aviv, Simon Walters, and National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell, among others, explicitly cautioned against swift action. Their primary concern was that Prime Minister Netanyahu, facing a difficult election campaign, could leverage any confrontation with a foreign government as a tool to rally support against an "external enemy."

The sanctions package includes a ban on imports from Israeli settlements, stricter controls on arms exports, potential sanctions on individuals and companies involved in commercial activities in the West Bank, a prohibition on advertising settlement properties in the UK, and sanctions against five individuals accused of inciting violence against Palestinians.

The Spectator also suggests that domestic British politics played a role, with pressure from Labour MPs and concerns about losing voters to the Green Party in upcoming local elections. While MI6 did not issue a direct "do not proceed" order, it warned that the sanctions could damage intelligence cooperation with Israel, a concern echoed by security sources who expressed frustration that their warnings about the consequences were not heeded.