The Times: 'Counterproductive' sanctions on Israel don't match the 'theatrical rhetoric'

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, September 9: British papers are reacting to the sanctions imposed on Israel. Next: Israeli papers discuss Haaretz's October 7 revelatory investigation. Also: CDs are back! Finally, South Park renames itself to South America to mock Trump. An Independent's headline reads, “UK sanctions Israel over West Bank 'ethnic cleansing'". Ed Miliband, Britain’s foreign secretary, said that the sanctions come as Israel has turned a blind eye to the “ongoing ethnic cleansing in the West Bank” by “settler terrorists”. He also added that the occupation of the West Bank as a whole is unlawful. The front page of The iPaper focuses on the reaction from Israel: “Israeli fury after UK accuses settlers of ethnic cleansing”. Britain’s Chief Rabbi said that Tuesday was a “truly dark day for British Jews”. Meanwhile, Miliband highlighted his Jewish background, adding that he is a “proud British Jew”. The paper also says that “Britain risks reduced access to Israeli intelligence” after the import ban. An editorial in The Times writes that “Britain’s West Bank sanctions will do nothing to help Palestinians”. The article says that the “measures do not match the theatrical rhetoric” and they may actually be “hugely counterproductive” and “feed the fire of antisemitism” in the UK. Israeli papers are reacting to Haaretz’s revelation that Benjamin Netanyahu had been informed about the October 7 attack prior to it. These findings come as no surprise to YnetNews. The paper says this episode “adds to the series of warning signs issued before October 7”. What they have in common is how Netanyahu reacted to them “with boredom and indifference”, according to multiple sources. The article says that the revelations, however, will not have an effect on the elections. Haaretz disagrees, saying that “it is possible, after three years of lies and bloodshed, that this revelation will be the decisive moment for a fence-sitting voter”. In an editorial, Haaretz stands by its claim; the headline here reads “Netanyahu knew”. The article argues his responsibility extends back to the years leading up to the massacre during which he allowed Hamas to get their hands on funding. Next: CDs are back in vogue. The Washington Post's headline reads “Grab your Discmans out of storage. CDs are back, baby”. Their growth has surpassed that of vinyl. The paper interviewed a 31-year-old man who said he craves “tactile interaction in a digital world”. For many people like him, it's all about nostalgia. For others, it’s the simple fact that CDs sound better than both streaming and vinyl. The Washington Post says that K-pop stars are partially responsible for the trend – the band BTS released multiple CD editions of their 2026 album and sold nearly 600,000 copies in the United States. The paper writes: “Nothing new is new. Everything is a rehash, a recycle, a reach back”. Finally, The Guardian reports that the cartoon show South Park changed its name to South America. The new title is inspired by the “bravery and patriotism” of Apple and Google, who changed Lake Ontario’s name to “Lake America” after US President Donald Trump signed an order renaming the lake. You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.