Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has dismissed warnings from the UK’s chief rabbi that British Jews face higher risk following the Government’s decision to impose sanctions on Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.

Speaking after Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis criticised the move, Miliband said he disagreed with the rabbi’s assessment. He described himself as a “proud British Jew” and said people should do more to tackle antisemitism while also insisting the Government could do so alongside defending British values.

Mirvis had said the sanctions marked a “dark day”, arguing they would bolster the extremism they were meant to counter. Miliband responded that he did not share that view and added that blaming Jews in Britain, or elsewhere, for actions taken by Israel’s government amounts to antisemitism.

Sanctions Announced With A Stated Rationale

The UK’s measures relate to trade and services connected to illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Miliband told MPs that a “new approach” was required in response to plans for the E1 development, a settlement project he said would cut the West Bank off from East Jerusalem and split the territory.

He also told the House of Commons that the Government agreed there was ethnic cleansing in parts of the occupied West Bank. Miliband said settlement authorities and “settler terrorists” were driving Palestinians from land, and that Israel’s government had too often ignored the issue.

Picture courtesy of BBC

The sanctions are intended to target companies and individuals that provide services such as construction and financing for settlements. There will also be a ban on advertising illegal settlements in the UK, and Miliband said the steps could take up to nine months to be implemented.

Rising Antisemitism Cited Across The UK

The sanctions are being introduced at a time of growing anti-Jewish incidents in Britain. The Community Security Trust (CST) said it recorded 1,926 antisemitic incidents across the UK in the first six months of 2026, up 21% compared with the same period the previous year.

In Parliament, Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the decision, telling MPs that the country had to uphold fairness and oppose injustice. He added that the Government would stand with those being “bullied out of their homes”.

The Palestinian presidency welcomed the sanctions, calling them an “important step” towards challenging Israel’s “colonial system” and violations against Palestinians.

Jewish Community Reaction Splits Over Security

Reactions inside the UK Jewish community were mixed. The Jewish Leadership Council warned the Government’s policy could amount to a practical boycott of Israel and accused Miliband of bowing to pressure from extreme figures within British society.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the timing of the announcement—before Rosh Hashanah, which begins on Friday—raised serious concerns for communal security. It also argued that a worsening UK-Israel relationship could inflame tensions in Britain, while noting it had previously warned Israel over “intolerable settler violence” affecting its own standing.

Greater Manchester Police said it would assign extra staff and resources during the Jewish High Holy Days to increase “visibility and security”. Ch Supt Dave Meeney said officers would continue working with local Jewish communities during what he described as an important period that may heighten concerns.

Na’amod, a UK Jews’ movement that says it wants to end Israel’s occupation and support equality for Palestinians and Israelis, welcomed the sanctions. It said it had waited years for the Government to act, and rejected the idea that the measures would inevitably feed antisemitism.

The Movement for Progressive Judaism said vulnerability of British Jews should not be ignored, but argued that steps targeting settlement activity are not the same as an attack on Jews. It urged care not to blur the line between the two.

Diplomatic Row With Israel Widens

Israel has responded to the sanctions with diplomatic actions including closing the British consulate in East Jerusalem and barring 11 MPs and a campaigner from entering the country.

On Wednesday, Israel’s Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli wrote to Israeli border control recommending entry be refused to additional British-linked organisations. The list included Oxfam, Save the Children, Norwegian Refugee Council, Islamic Relief Worldwide, and Medical Aid for Palestinians.

Announcing the sanctions in the Commons, Miliband said the Government agreed there was ethnic cleansing in parts of the occupied West Bank and cited settlement plans as a key driver for the policy change. Canada and France have also imposed similar bans on goods from settlements in a coordinated move with other allies.

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10 September 2026

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Like most Labour politicians, Miliband couldn't give a toss about Jews, in Britain or anywhere else

A ban makes sense.

If you buy goods created on land that’s been stolen you are aiding and abetting the thief.

It’s clear whet’s happening in the West Bank is ethnic cleansing sponsored by the Israeli Government.

48 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Like most Labour politicians, Miliband couldn't give a toss about Jews, in Britain or anywhere else

Miliband IS a Jew!

The politically correct west, which has a serious demographic problem, has created this nightmare by allowing massive immigration

of muslims. Only Japan and a few other Asian counties know what the muslims are planning.

6 minutes ago, koolkarl said:

The politically correct west, which has a serious demographic problem, has created this nightmare by allowing massive immigration

of muslims. Only Japan and a few other Asian counties know what the muslims are planning.

I don’t disagree on the problem of Muslim Immigration.

However, this has nothing to do with Israel sanctioning and supporting ethnic cleansing in land that has been stolen. And I might add, supported financially by the USA.

The time has come for the world to stand together and tell Israel it’s a pariah.

As usual zionists are trying to fight anti semitism by equating it to the opposition to Israeli govt crimes. The israeli govt in turn is conflating the two as a weapon against anybody who opposes it. All they are doing is to encourage it. Don't they realise that brainless anti semites are confused and blame all Jews for the actions of israeli zionists?

13 minutes ago, koolkarl said:

The politically correct west, which has a serious demographic problem, has created this nightmare by allowing massive immigration

of muslims. Only Japan and a few other Asian counties know what the muslims are planning.

16 minutes ago, koolkarl said:

The politically correct west, which has a serious demographic problem, has created this nightmare by allowing massive immigration

of muslims. Only Japan and a few other Asian counties know what the muslims are planning.

So what are 'the muslims' planning then and how does Japan, with its own demographic problem, and a few Asian countries, know it when other countries don't? Which Asian countries do you mean. Evidence attached plz

14 minutes ago, Tyke said:

Don't they realise that brainless anti semites are confused and blame all Jews for the actions of israeli zionists?

Of course the Israeli government realizes it. "Brainess anti semites" have been "confused and blame all Jews" for over 2,000 years. Antisemitism is the world's oldest continuous hatred.

Just now, Evil Penevil said:

Of course the Israeli government realizes it. "Brainess anti semites" have been "confused and blame all Jews" for over 2,000 years. Antisemitism is the world's oldest continuous hatred.

The issue now is people are conflating hatred for what is Israel has done/is doing, with hatred of Jews. The latter is antisemitism, the former isn’t.

However, there is a causal link. Human nature being what it is will combine the too.

It’s wrong, and intelligent, educated people won’t do this, but most will.

Regardless, there has to be a reckoning for what Israel has done/is doing. State sponsored terrorism and crimes against humanity must have a reckoning and crying victim and antisemitism must not prevent that.

13 minutes ago, Evil Penevil said:

Of course the Israeli government realizes it. "Brainess anti semites" have been "confused and blame all Jews" for over 2,000 years. Antisemitism is the world's oldest continuous hatred.

Currently aided by the Israeli govt.

In 2005 Israel removed all settlements from Gaza, that worked out well.

4 minutes ago, Stanthenomad said:

In 2005 Israel removed all settlements from Gaza, that worked out well.

In 1948 Israel removed Palestinians to Gaza. Everything since this shows it didn’t work out well.

18 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

In 1948 Israel removed Palestinians to Gaza. Everything since this shows it didn’t work out well.

Ridiculously misleading historical revision.

56 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

In 1948 Israel removed Palestinians to Gaza. Everything since this shows it didn’t work out well.

Thought a lot went to Jordan, formed a state within a state.

Then they murdered the Head of Intelligence and tried to overthrow King Hussien. Seemingly that upset him so the Jordanian army 'Removed' them all one September, in doing so creating the infamous "Black September" gang of terrorists.

1990-91 Kuwait 'Removed' 380,000 Palestinians around 18% of its population after PLO leader Yasser Arafat (Born in Egypt) bit the hand that fed him.

2005 Sharon 'Removed' every Israeli from Gaza, even the dead ones.

.

Lots of removing going on.........

I'm not British so I'm happy to leave British government actions to the British.

It is a fact though that there has been a major spike in racist Jew hating actions there but I'm skeptical that this move by the government there will much inflame that.

British Jews are British Jews. They're not Israel. Israel is Israel.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Jingthing

What ever Red Ed gets involved with is a disaster

As Foreign secretary he is going to upset a lot of people including Donald Trump

And others

Look how his green energy worked out loss of thousands jobs in the North Sea

Plus rising energy costs the man is a walking disaster and clown to boot 🤡

Playing the victim card again?

Just now, AustinRacing said:

Playing the victim card again?

Yeah thousands of years of persecution in the diaspora never happened.

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yeah thousands of years of persecution in the diaspora never happened.

Sure so let’s allow them to persecute others in return. They were given some grace for decades but they’ve gone too far. They won’t last much longer by the look of things. Ps-referring to their system of governance not the people.

1 minute ago, AustinRacing said:

Sure so let’s allow them to persecute others in return. They were given some grace for decades but they’ve gone too far. They won’t last much longer by the look of things. Ps-referring to their system of governance not the people.

A very simple minded analysis.

The majority of Palestineins will never accept the existence of Israel.