Ed Miliband has rejected the chief rabbi’s claim that Britain’s new sanctions against Israeli settlements could endanger Jewish people in the UK, declaring: “I’m a proud British Jew and I don’t agree.”
The foreign secretary also stood by his description of extremist Israeli settlers as “terrorists” carrying out the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Speaking to Sky News, Miliband said he regretted Israel’s retaliatory decision to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem and restrict British diplomatic activity.
However, he insisted the government had considered the potential consequences before introducing the measures and remained convinced it had acted correctly.
“I regret what the Israeli government has announced, but I’m proud of what we did yesterday and it was the right thing to do.”
The sanctions target trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as well as businesses and individuals involved in supporting their expansion.
Miliband stands by ‘ethnic cleansing’ accusation
Sky News presenter Sophie Ridge challenged Miliband over the language he used while announcing the policy in the House of Commons.
The foreign secretary told MPs that “settler terrorists” were forcing Palestinians from their homes and accused the Israeli government of supporting ethnic cleansing in parts of the West Bank.
Asked whether he stood by those words, Miliband answered:
“Yes, I do. And I weighed up very carefully my words.”
He said thousands of Palestinians had been driven from their homes during recent years.
“We’ve got settler terrorists who are driving Palestinians from their homes. Thousands of Palestinians in the last few years driven from, evicted from, their homes essentially.
“And I’m afraid the Israeli government has at best turned a blind eye to that. And some ministers have made remarks encouraging the forced displacement of Palestinians.”
Miliband said Britain faced a choice between remaining silent and confronting what he described as a “terrible injustice”.
The government has now formally adopted the position that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is unlawful in its entirety.
Its measures include a ban on imports from settlements and restrictions on British companies providing construction, financial and property services that facilitate their expansion.
The government will also target individuals accused of encouraging settler violence and restrict arms licences and other exports that materially contribute to the occupation.
The measures are expected to be introduced within nine months, although legal challenges could delay their implementation. The full policy was announced in Miliband’s Commons statement on Israel and Palestine.
‘I don’t agree with the chief rabbi’
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis described the announcement as a “truly dark day for British Jews”.
He accused the government of providing political support for “menacing anti-Israel rhetoric” and people with what he called a dangerous obsession with the Jewish state.
Ridge asked Miliband whether such language and sanctions could increase the risks facing Jewish communities in Britain.
“Well, I’m a proud British Jew and I don’t agree with the chief rabbi,” Miliband replied.
“I have great respect for the chief rabbi, but I don’t agree with him.”
The foreign secretary argued that it must be possible to criticise the decisions of Israel’s government while confronting antisemitism in Britain.
“Anyone in our country who holds British Jews responsible for the actions of the Israeli government, that is antisemitism, pure and simple.”
He said ministers needed to protect Jewish communities while also upholding the rule of law and opposing injustice.
The chief rabbi’s criticism was also rejected by Miliband during a separate BBC interview.
Israel closes British consulate in retaliation
Israel responded to the sanctions by ordering Britain to close its consulate in East Jerusalem within 30 days.
The diplomatic mission represents British interests relating to Palestinians in Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank. It is separate from the British embassy in Tel Aviv, which manages relations with the Israeli government.
Miliband acknowledged that losing the consulate would be damaging.
“We weighed up the costs and the benefits in advance of this.”
He said the government had consulted the Palestinian prime minister and Palestinian representatives in Britain before acting.
According to Miliband, they urged Britain to intervene because continued settlement expansion was destroying the prospect of a viable Palestinian state.
He referred particularly to the E1 settlement project east of Jerusalem, which critics warn could divide the northern and southern West Bank.
Israel has also ordered British diplomats based in Ramallah and officials participating in a US-led Gaza coordination mission to leave within seven days. Britain will no longer be allowed to train Palestinian security forces in the West Bank.
A group of British MPs and activists has also been barred from entering Israel.
As The Daily Britain previously reported, the list includes Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, Diane Abbott, John McDonnell and several Green MPs.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called Britain’s measures “morally distorted” and accused the government of interfering in Israel’s affairs before its forthcoming election.
Miliband says Israeli policy is making the country less secure
Miliband used the interview to stress that he supports the existence and security of Israel.
He recalled visiting relatives there as a child and spending time on the kibbutz where his cousins lived.
However, he argued that the policies pursued by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government were increasing Israel’s international isolation.
“I don’t want to see Israel isolated in the world. And I fear that the actions of the government are not making Israel more secure. I think it’s making it less secure.”
He said Britain’s argument was with the actions of the Israeli government rather than the country’s people.
The foreign secretary pointed out that the UK was not acting alone. France and Canada also announced settlement trade restrictions, while nine other countries endorsed the coordinated action.
The measures follow months of pressure for Britain to respond more forcefully to settlement expansion. More than 100 former British and French diplomats recently warned that “Palestine is being erased before our eyes” and urged Burnham to restrict trade linked to settlements.
Miliband discussed policy with the United States
Miliband confirmed that Britain had discussed the planned measures with the United States before their announcement.
He said he had spoken about the issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio but declined to reveal details of their conversations.
“I’ll let our American friends speak for themselves.”
Miliband claimed there was widespread international frustration with the actions of Netanyahu’s government.
Rubio said the United States would not follow Britain’s policy but added that Washington did not want to see the West Bank destabilised.
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee adopted a more critical position, raising the possibility of American retaliation over the trade measures.
Despite those warnings and Israel’s response, Miliband said the government had no intention of reversing course.
“I’d prefer that Israel hadn’t announced what it did, but overall, I strongly believe that what we did along with other international allies was absolutely the right thing to do.”
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