Britain imposes sanctions on West Bank settlements — Politico Europe
In Liverpool, United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed a shift in the government's policy on Gaza at the annual Labour Party conference: the country has imposed trade sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. As Politico Europe reports, Miliband told internal party critics who had demanded more active measures to protect Palestinians: “You were right.”
Some Labour Party representatives believe the sanctions could help restore voter support that the party lost in constituencies with large Muslim populations. Former minister and MP Jess Phillips called this the beginning of rebuilding trust, although she noted that the decision did not prompt universal celebration. Emily Thornberry, chair of the cross-party Foreign Affairs Committee, said the government had “finally done the right thing.”
Reaction within the party
MP Rachael Maskell said voters are actively responding to the policy shift, which, she said, is based not on choosing a side but on values. Labour activists also hope this will weaken the Green Party’s position in the upcoming by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, Keir Starmer’s former constituency.
At the same time, Green representatives doubt that Labour’s change of position will be sufficient. A Green Party municipal councillor involved in the campaign told the publication that voters do not trust the Labour Party on this issue and that the Greens have maintained a tougher position for longer.
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Warnings over diplomatic consequences
According to the publication, before the sanctions were announced, three sources urged Miliband to wait until the elections in Israel, fearing that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would use the decision for his own political purposes. They claim that the minister insisted on immediate action, calling the situation a “moral emergency.”
Miliband also accused the Israeli government of turning a blind eye to the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians by settlers. After Britain’s move, Canada and France took similar action. In response, Israel announced the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem, while British ministers were told that intelligence cooperation would continue.
At the same time, the sanctions caused dissatisfaction among some Labour members, including certain Jewish party members. Miliband’s critics also expressed concerns about the possible diplomatic consequences of the decision.
