Andy Burnham tries to cool Labour Palestine revolt with plan to sanction Israeli settlements
Andy Burnham is expected to announce "robust" sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank within weeks, in an effort to head off a growing revolt within the Labour Party. The move comes after Israel published a tender for the controversial E1 settlement scheme, which Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband warned could endanger a two-state solution by cutting the West Bank off from East Jerusalem. More than 140 Labour MPs, roughly a third of the parliamentary party, have already signed a letter demanding a ban on trade with illegal settlements, and Burnham faces further pressure from a conference motion expected in Liverpool next month.
Government sources say Burnham is likely to approve a trade ban on goods from Israeli settlements alongside sanctions on individuals, adopting a tougher stance than his predecessor, Keir Starmer. However, critics including Labour Friends of Israel warn that such a ban would be practically unworkable, since distinguishing settlement goods from wider Israeli or Palestinian produce is difficult, and could become a "de facto boycott" of all of Israel. Senior Labour figures such as Emily Thornberry are urging swift action, arguing the E1 project would permanently sever Palestinian territory, while the Foreign Office says it does not comment on speculation but has been clear that illegal settlements threaten a viable Palestinian state.
- Burnham set to unveil sanctions on Israeli settlements within weeks
- Move aims to quell Labour revolt over West Bank's E1 project
- Critics warn a trade ban risks becoming a wider Israel boycott
New here? Start with this
The West Bank is territory Palestinians seek as part of a future state, alongside East Jerusalem and Gaza. Israeli settlements are communities built there by Israel; most countries consider them illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes.
The proposed E1 settlement scheme would expand construction east of Jerusalem. Critics say it could make it harder to connect Palestinian areas and establish a viable state alongside Israel, often called a two-state solution.
Labour MPs are divided over how the UK should respond to settlement activity. A trade ban would restrict goods made in settlements, while sanctions could target people involved; supporters and critics disagree over how workable such measures would be and what their effects might be.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The international community widely recognises Israeli settlements as illegal under international law, and the planned E1 project would irreversibly fragment Palestinian territory and undermine a viable two-state solution. Sanctions represent a legitimate non-military diplomatic tool aligned with the Government's stated commitment to international law and Palestinian self-determination, and declining to act risks appearing complicit in territorial expansion.
The case against
Whilst settlement expansion is concerning, implementing effective trade bans would prove practically unworkable given the complexity of supply chains and the genuine difficulty of isolating settlement goods from legitimate Israeli commerce. Such measures risk escalating into a de facto broader boycott, potentially damaging UK-Israel relations and undermining the diplomatic engagement and negotiation that offers the best path toward genuine peace.