UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband Has Family Ties in West Bank and Gur Hasidic Community

Ed Miliband, 56, was appointed as the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary on Monday. The former leader of the Labour Party and 2015 prime ministerial candidate identifies as a "cultural Jew," emphasizing that his Jewish heritage is integral to his identity. His parents were Jewish refugees from Poland; his mother survived thanks to Polish Righteous Among the Nations, while his maternal grandfather perished during the Holocaust. Miliband’s grandmother found refuge in Israel after World War II, and he visited Israel for the first time at age seven.

In a 2014 speech at the Hebrew University, Miliband described Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people and expressed deep gratitude for the sanctuary it provided his family. Israeli media reported that Miliband has extensive family connections in Israel, including first and second cousins living in the West Bank, relatives in the Gur and Aleksander Hasidic communities in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem, and cousins residing in kibbutzim.

Politically, Miliband supports a two-state solution and has frequently criticized the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. He advocates for recognizing a Palestinian state but opposes boycotts against Israel, believing progress can only come through negotiation. In his first statement as Foreign Secretary, he pledged to work tirelessly for lasting peace between Palestine and Israel, including ending the suffering in Gaza and ensuring security for Israeli citizens. He also committed to helping resolve the conflict with Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Miliband has consistently affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense and rejected those questioning its existence. However, he has also openly criticized Israeli government policies that he believes harm Israel’s long-term interests. Notably, Miliband is the first Jewish leader of the Labour Party (2010-2015) and will become the second Miliband brother to serve as UK Foreign Secretary, following his older brother David, who held the post from 2007 to 2010. The brothers competed for Labour leadership in 2010, with Ed narrowly defeating David.