UK to reassert support for Palestinian rights and a two-state solution in move drawing widespread criticism
UK to adopt tougher stance on Israel with illegal settlements trade ban
Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president, has said that Britain will be “on the wrong side of history” if it goes ahead with plans to ban trade with the illegal settlements on the West Bank.
In a statement delivered on camera, Herzog said:
Later today, we expect to see headlines announcing certain British trade sanctions on Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria.
If this happens – and other nations may join – I believe it will prove to be a grave miscalculation, a decision that will fall on the wrong side of history.
McFadden said the ban was intended to stop the two-state solution being rendered impossible. He said:
At the heart of the statement is the idea that the UK, along with many other countries, do not want to see the possibility of a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine being erased by changes to the facts on the ground, and the reason that danger has become more urgent is because of expanded settlement activity in recent weeks and months.
He said this move was aimed at the Israeli government, not the Israeli people. He explained:
Israel is an important security ally, and in the context of what we’re saying today, I think it’s also important to distinguish between action which is announced in response to policies of this Israeli government at this time, and the people of Israel and the links between Israel and the UK, which are important and valuable and will continue to be so.
He stressed that Israel would remain an important trading partner for the UK. He told Sky News:
I think it’s also important to say that Israel is an important trading partner for the UK. This isn’t intended to be a boycott of all Israeli goods.
He strongly rejected Mike Huckabee’s claim that the UK government was guilty of “Jew hate”. (See 9.52am.) Asked about Huckabee’s comment, he said:
I fundamentally reject that. When it comes to the Jewish community in the UK, this is a really important part of our society.
I want Jewish people in the UK to be able to live their lives freely in education, in work, in worship, in all aspects of their lives, and I and every government minister would condemn any attacks on the Jewish community here in the UK.
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Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/sep/08/uk-us-trade-israel-sanctions-labour-ed-miliband-farage-latest-news-updates
Author : Andrew Sparrow
Publish date : 2026-09-08 09:52:00
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