Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has publicly contested warnings from the Chief Rabbi regarding the safety of British Jews following the government’s announcement of new sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis characterized the policy shift as a “truly dark day” that he argued would only strengthen the very extremism the UK intends to counter. However, Miliband, identifying himself as a “proud British Jew,” stated that he disagreed with the rabbi’s assessment while maintaining deep respect for him.
“We all need to do more to tackle antisemitism,” Miliband said. “But I believe we can do that and stand up for British values.” He further emphasized that attributing the actions of the Israeli government to Jews globally constitutes “antisemitism, pure and simple.”
The decision comes amidst a significant rise in anti-Jewish hostility across the UK. Data from the Community Security Trust (CST) indicates that 1,926 incidents of anti-Jewish hate were recorded in the first half of 2026, representing a 21% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the administration’s stance to Members of Parliament, asserting that Britain must champion fairness. “Where people are being bullied out of their homes… we will always stand with the underdog,” Burnham said.
Reaction within the UK Jewish community remains divided. While the Jewish Leadership Council warned that the measures risk becoming a de facto boycott of Israel and accused the government of yielding to extreme elements, the Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed concerns about communal security, noting the timing ahead of Rosh Hashanah was problematic.
Conversely, Na’amod, a movement advocating for Palestinian and Israeli equality, welcomed the decision after years of waiting for government action. The Movement for Progressive Judaism also stated that while Jewish vulnerability is real, targeting settlements is distinct from attacking Jews and warned against conflating the two.
The Palestinian presidency praised the sanctions as a crucial step toward addressing what it described as Israel’s colonial system and violations against Palestinians. The move has triggered a diplomatic dispute with Israel, which has closed its consulate in East Jerusalem and banned several British individuals and organizations, including Oxfam and Save the Children, from entering the country.
Miliband explained that the new approach was necessitated by the E1 settlement project, which threatens to sever the West Bank from East Jerusalem. He accused the Israeli government of ignoring “settler terrorists” responsible for driving Palestinians from their land. The sanctions, which target construction, financing, and advertising services related to the settlements, are expected to take up to nine months to implement.
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