The UK government under Prime Minister Andy Burnham is banning goods from illegal West Bank settlements as part of its foreign policy to support the "two State solution". The move is set to be announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband in the House of Commons on September 8, 2026. According to Israel, this ban could lead to repercussions from some US states that have laws allowing them to ban business with Britain if they impose sanctions. Israeli President and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee have criticized the UK decision as "irrational" and a form of "interference".
Written by the local model on 2026-09-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Ed Miliband, the British Foreign Secretary, has announced a ban on imports of goods produced in Jewish settlements in the Israeli occupied West Bank, as part of a new policy to pressure Israel over settlement expansion. The move is seen as a significant shift in Britain's relations with Israel, and comes after Andy Burnham, the UK Prime Minister, suggested that he would impose sanctions on Israel if elected.
The ban is part of a broader effort by the UK, along with France and Canada, to restrict trade with Israeli settlements. The measures are intended to support the two-state solution and address concerns over the occupation in the West Bank. However, the move has been criticized by the US and some Israeli politicians, who argue that it will harm relations between the countries.
The UK's position is that the settlement expansion is undermining prospects for a two-state solution, which has long been supported by Britain. Ed Miliband emphasized that the British government's argument is not with the people of Israel, but rather with the conduct of their government. He also stated that the UK agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank.
The ban on imports of goods from Israeli settlements will be part of a broader effort to restrict trade with these areas. The measures are intended to be limited and symbolically significant, but will not come into force immediately.
Written for “UK Sanctions Israeli Settlements” on 2026-09-08,
grounded in this article and the 12 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
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Leaning score withheld for article 6931: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-08
For one of its first foreign policy moves, the administration of U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is banning goods from illegal settlements in the West Bank.
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administration → ban → Bank
The U.K. government has said the move is to keep alive the possibility of a ‘two State solution’.
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move → say → solution
However, only a small proportion of the $8.12 billion in bilateral trade originates in the West Bank.
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proportion → originate → Bank
Israel had issued tenders for 1,200 settlements in the so-called E1 area, east of Jerusalem.
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Israel → issue → Jerusalem
Such a settlement would split the west bank into two parts, making a contiguous Palestinian state virtually impossible.
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state → split → parts
East Jerusalam and the West Bank are considered occupied territory under international law.
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Jerusalam → consider → law
The idea of ‘E1’ was mooted in 1990 but has been held in abeyance due to pressure from other countries.
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idea → moot → countries
U.K. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is set to announce the ban in the House of Commons on Tuesday (September 8, 2026).
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Miliband → set → Tuesday
Prior to being appointed Prime Minister, Mr. Burnham had apologised for his predecessor Keir Starmer’s and Labour’s early position on the Israel-Gaza conflict, saying the party needed to do better.
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party → appoint → conflict
Israeli President said the U.K. decision would fall “on the wrong side of history” as he accused the U.K. of interference in Knesset elections which are at the end of October.
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which → say → October
U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, called the move an “irrational action” in a BBC Radio 4 interview.
Mr. Huckabee suggested that British business could suffer in some U.S. States , such as Florida, which, he said, had laws that could result in a ban on business with Britain, if the sanctions went through.
uncertain
sanctions → call → Britain
Earlier this week, Mr. Huckabee accused the British government of “Jew hate” on social media.
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Huckabee → accuse → media
Asked whether he was aware that Mr. Miliband himself was Jewish, Mr. Huckabee drew a parallel saying there were “some Americans who don’t like America very much”.
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who → ask → America
