UK to announce sanctions on Israeli West Bank settlements as part of ‘reset’ of policy on Israel

Ed Miliband is expected to announce the sanctions on Tuesday afternoon

The move will be announced in the House of Commons by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who last week said there would be a “comprehensive reset” of Britain’s relationship with Israel.

The BBC reports that the sanction could include restrictions on buying agricultural goods from Israeli settlements.

The settlements are illegal under international law. There was anger from both Britain and the wider international community last month when Israel opened tenders for 1,200 new homes in an area of the West Bank east of Jerusalem, which would effectively end hopes of a two-state solution.

The news of the sanctions has been welcomed by many Labour MPs, including Foreign Affairs Committee chair Emily Thornberry.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the UK must “do everything [it] can to protect the possibility of a Palestinian state”.

“That is the way you get a safe and secure Israel and justice for Palestinians,” she adds.

However, Labour MP Peter Prinsley, who is the honorary vice-chairman of Labour Friends of Israel, said the sanctions “carry “a real risk of increased chances of attacks on the British Jewish community”.

Unsurprisingly, the sanctions have sparked a furious reaction from Israel and Donald Trump’s White House.

The US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has said there will “without a doubt” be a US reaction to the trade sanctions, with the Times reporting that the White House will make a statement attacking the move.

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar has warned that “If Britain acts against Israel, Israel will act against Britain.”

Meanwhile, far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has said is it time for Israel to publicly recognise the Falkland Islands as Argentine territory.