UK sanctions Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank as Israel announces consulate closure, bans British lawmakers

The U.S. ambassador to Israel warned Britain could face retaliation from Washington, as France and Canada joined a growing group of countries taking action over Israeli settlement expansion.MANCHESTER, England (CN) — The British government on Tuesday announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, accusing “settler terrorists” of driving Palestinians from their land in what Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called “ethnic cleansing.”Miliband announced a ban on imports from Israeli settlements and said Britain would establish a “comprehensive sanction regime” covering people and companies that support settlement expansion.He told the House of Commons that the government does not believe “the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops.”The ban is expected to affect agricultural products from settler farms, including Medjool dates, avocados, mangoes and grapes, as well as fresh herbs and wine.The measures also include a ban on advertising properties in illegal West Bank settlements in Britain, sanctions against people and companies providing services linked to settlement expansion and restrictions on some arms licenses where weapons would materially contribute to the occupation.Miliband said those who finance or facilitate settlement expansion would face “the full force of U.K. sanctions.”He said the Israeli government had “turned a blind eye” to the violence.“The official view of the British government is that the occupation is unlawful,” Miliband said, citing Israel’s efforts to entrench control over the territory, expand settlements and pursue permanent sovereignty.He said the measures target settlements and settlement expansion, “not Israel.”Shift in British policyThe measures mark a significant shift in Britain’s policy toward Israel, with Miliband using stronger language to condemn Israeli actions in the West Bank and formally declaring the occupation unlawful.Miliband also said Britain would expand its global human rights sanctions regime to allow faster action against settlement expansion, including efforts to prevent development in the E1 area east of Jerusalem.He opened his remarks by describing himself as a “proud British Jew” and said his support for Israel was not inconsistent with support for a Palestinian state.On Gaza, Miliband called on Hamas to disarm and dismantle its military infrastructure, saying the group could have no role in the future governance of Gaza under a proposed 20-point peace plan.He also said Britain would continue to support legal proceedings examining whether Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, saying the question should be determined by the courts. Britain supports the International Court of Justice reaching a decision, he said.Israel retaliates with countermeasuresIsrael responded swiftly, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announcing a series of countermeasures and accusing the Labour government of systematically working against Israel.Saar called Miliband’s remarks “outrageous lies” and accused Britain of interfering in Israel’s domestic politics ahead of an election scheduled for late October.He said the British approach carried echoes of “antisemitic wars.”Saar announced plans to close the British Consulate in Jerusalem, remove British representatives from a U.S.-led Gaza coordination mission and end British training support for Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank.Israel also said it would bar 12 British elected representatives and other British nationals from entering the country, accusing them of anti-Israel activity or of denying Israel’s existence.These targeted include former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and members of the Green Party who have opposed Israel’s war in Gaza.Israel’s national security minister separately called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognize the Falkland Islands as occupied Argentine territory and impose sanctions on Britain — despite Israeli and British companies preparing to drill for oil there in 2028.The United States also warned of possible consequences.U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Tuesday that he expected a response from Washington and suggested individual states, including Florida, could take trade action against Britain.“The repercussions are going to be significant,” Huckabee said.Palestinian Ambassador to Britain Husam Zomlot welcomed the sanctions as a “turning point,” saying Britain was moving “from condemnation to consequences.”Further sanctions from Europe and Canada Britain’s announcement came as France, Canada and other countries moved to impose similar restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements.A joint statement backed by Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden said the countries would work to restrict trade in goods from illegal settlements.They countries called for protecting a two-state solution and urged Israel to “immediately halt the expansion of settlements” and “ensure accountability for settler violence.”Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads