Israel hits out at UK plan to sanction West Bank settlements

Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleForeign Secretary Ed Miliband is set to announce a comprehensive reset of the UK's relations with Israel, which includes proposed trade restrictions on goods produced in illegal West Bank settlements to protect the viability of a two-state solution. Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the proposed trade ban as a grave miscalculation and gross interference in Israel's sovereign democratic elections, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the expulsion of the British ambassador. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee denounced the planned sanctions as an irrational action and discrimination against the Jewish people, warning that the policy could inflict significant damage on British business interests. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden defended the British government's position, clarifying that the measures target illegal settlement expansion specifically rather than acting as a wider economic or security boycott against Israel. Critics including Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat and former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind warned that the stance risks creating a political backlash in Israel and could endanger crucial intelligence cooperation that keeps the UK safe. In fullUK politics live: Israel condemns Britain’s ‘grave miscalculation’ over West Bank sanctionsMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Raccontata daindependent.co.ukthenationalnews.comjpost.comeconomictimes.indiatimes.comtheguardian.comirishtimes.commiddleeasteye.netcnbc.comcityam.comsaudigazette.com.sasmh.com.au