Written by JILL LAWLESS
Update 14:18 EDT, 8 September 2026
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LONDON (AP) — United Kingdom banned trade with Israeli settlements on Tuesday the occupied West Bank, where he claims that "terrorist settlers" carry out "ethnic cleansing" towards Palestinians, which importantly exacerbates Britain's position towards a long-standing ally.
France and Canada have announced that they will take akin measures to prevent expanding settlements and expanding force that prevents the creation of a future Palestinian state.
Israel responded furiously and announced that it would close the British consulate in Jerusalem.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain would ban imports of all goods from settlements and forbid companies from providing services to settlements, including funding, construction, infrastructure, real property and advertising.
"I don't think the British wanted us to support the business by accepting products from the settlements in our stores and supermarkets," said Miliband.
In a joint message by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that the expansion of settlements and force by settlers in the West Bank "are a direct and urgent threat" for a two-state solution. They said they decided to act. "before it's besides late."
The economical impact is likely to be limited as settlements produce only a tiny amount of mainly agricultural exports.
However, this decision is simply a symbolic expression of discontent with Israel by any of his closest allies and is simply a fresh signal of the increasing isolation of the Israeli government as a consequence of the war in Gaza.
Miliband said he felt "a deep sense of shame for what happened in Palestine under the eyes of the global community."
"We will not agree to destruct the two-state solution" – he said.
Israeli abroad Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned this "Bad" Move.
He said that Israel had expelled British representatives from a joint military centre monitoring the ceasefire in Gaza and would end British training of safety forces of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
In addition, Israel banned a twelve British parliamentarians and another British citizens, whom Sa'ar described as "involved in anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli activities."
The settlements grew behind Netanyahu
Under the regulation of the ultra-nationalist Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanjahsettlement construction In the West Bank — captured by Israel during the war in the mediate East in 1967 — it increased rapidly.
The government of Netanyahu views the West Bank as a biblical and historical homeland of the judaic people and opposes the creation of a Palestinian state.
The global community firmly considers specified structures to be illegal.
Britain and another countries have expressed peculiar concern E1 settlement project approved by Israel, which in practice would divide the territory into 2 parts.
The number of settlers' attacks on Palestinians, evictions from Palestinian cities, Israeli military operations and checkpoints suffocating freedom of movement, as well as respective Palestinian attacks on Israelis, has increased markedly.
"The British government agrees that in the West Bank there are cultural cleansings of Palestinians, carried out by settlers' terrorists," said Miliband.
He said "houses were demolished, roads and public infrastructure destroyed, families displaced from their homes."
The trade ban will enter into force in six to 9 months, said Miliband.
He said that Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Poland, Portugal and Sweden undertook to "supporting further action".
The Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Norway either banned goods from settlements or are in the process, he added.
Miliband besides sharpened the British embargo on arms sales to Israel in Gaza, embracing arms "which contributes importantly to the occupation" Palestinian territories.
This movement follows the designation of the Palestinian State by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom recognised the Palestinian State Last year, in an effort to resume the shrinking efforts for a two-state solution.
In the change of position of the United Kingdom, Miliband said on Tuesday that Britain considers the business of the West Bank by Israel, not just settlements, to be illegal.
The fresh position will most likely be welcomed by many Labour organization voters and parliamentarians who called on the government to further impose sanctions on Israel and support Palestinians.
However, any expressed concerns that sanctions could increase support for Netanjah, who faces A tough fight for re-election in October, or lead to attacks on British Jews.
The Chief Rabbi of large Britain, Ephraim Mirvis, said it "a dark day for British Jews."
Foreign Affairs spokesperson for the Conservative organization opposition, Tom Tugendhat, said "the transformation of Israel into a pariah threatens sectarian divisions in our country and the further increase of anti-Semitic force on our streets."
The announcement angers Israel
Prior to the announcement of Milibanda, Itamar Ben-Gvir, a hardheaded Israeli minister of public safety and settler leader, urged Netanyahu to recognise Argentina's claims to the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic, known in Argentina as Malwiny.
Israeli president Isaac Herzog called ban "a serious miscalculation, a decision to hit the incorrect side of history.
"In the current context, this would be gross interference in the democratic elections of a sovereign state" – he said.
This movement was besides criticized by the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, a longtime settler who stated that it was "discrimination towards the judaic people".
He said Britain could carry "consequence or retaliation" from the U.S. side if he imposes sanctions.
Several US states have laws prohibiting contracts or investments with companies boycotting Israeli companies, including those based in the West Bank.
Burnham's office reported that he spoke to US president Donald Trump on Monday and presented "UK commitment to work for peace and safety in the region" and the accomplishment of a two-state solution.
There was no information on how Trump reacted.
Miliband, whose parents came to Britain as refugees before the Nazis, told parliamentarians that he spoke "as a arrogant British Jew" and a supporter of Israel.
"Our discussion does not concern the nation of Israel with which Britain has unwavering ties," said Miliband.
"Our discussion concerns the conduct of his government."
Authors of the Associated Press, Sylvia Hui of London and Megan Mineiro of Jerusalem, besides spoke out.
https://apnews.com/article/uk-west-bank-israel-sttlement-sanctions-b4d7354221bfe0c48e4bfce7a3b7624b
