Israel will ‘act against Britain’ if it imposes sanctions over plans to expand illegal settlements
Israel has warned it will retaliate against Britain if the UK imposes sanctions over plans to expand illegal settlements in the West Bank, as Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed the Government intends to "reset" its Israel policy within weeks. The dispute centres on Israel's fast-tracked tenders for the E1 settlement, which the UK considers illegal under international law because it would sever the West Bank from East Jerusalem, potentially undermining prospects for a two-state solution.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar told a Hebrew-language news site that "if Britain acts against Israel, Israel will act against Britain", warning any UK sanctions would be "a big mistake". In the Commons, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Israeli decisions on E1, particularly if fast-tracked ahead of October's Israeli general election, could "imperil, if not end" the two-state solution, while Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty indicated the policy reset could include a ban on trade in goods from illegal settlements and further sanctions related to violence in Gaza. Miliband told MPs he would set out "a comprehensive set of measures in the coming weeks" and would not "acquiesce in the destruction of the two-state solution".
In short
- Israel threatens to retaliate if UK sanctions its West Bank settlement plans
- UK condemns fast-tracked E1 settlement as illegal, risking two-state solution
- Miliband to announce reset of UK-Israel policy within weeks
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The UK can argue that targeted sanctions are a proportionate way to uphold international law and deter settlement expansion that it believes would divide the West Bank and East Jerusalem, further weakening the prospect of a negotiated two-state solution. Supporters may also see a clear response as necessary to show that decisions with serious consequences for Palestinian rights and regional stability carry diplomatic costs.
The case against
Israel can argue that UK sanctions would be a counterproductive form of pressure that damages bilateral relations and narrows scope for diplomacy, while Israel should make decisions about its security and territory through its own political process. Opponents may also question whether sanctions would change policy or improve prospects for peace, and warn that singling out Israel could be seen as unfair or as prejudging contested political and security questions.
Explained simply
The West Bank is territory captured by Israel in 1967 and is home to Palestinians as well as Israeli settlements. Most countries consider the settlements illegal under international law; Israel disputes that view. East Jerusalem is also claimed by Palestinians as the capital of a future state.
The E1 area lies east of Jerusalem. Building there could make movement between parts of the West Bank harder and affect the prospect of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, known as a two-state solution. Britain’s policy on Israel includes diplomatic and trade measures, so possible sanctions could affect relations between the two countries.
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