UK vows anti-settler measures as Israel warns of retaliation

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband pledged a stern response to the violent actions of extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. The foreign office official made the vow on Tuesday, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened retaliation if the UK imposed sanctions. Israel's right-wing government has been pushing for settlement expansion ahead of its elections, despite backlash from foreign governments, including the UK.

Miliband vowed that the UK would not "acquiesce in the destruction of the two-state solution" and would introduce a comprehensive set of measures to counter the violence. He warned that Britain would act if Israel retaliates against it, a move that could have severe consequences for the UK, a key ally with veto power in the UN Security Council.

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar vowed that Israel would retaliate against Britain, but did not specify how. The UK's stance on the issue has hardened in recent weeks, with former Prime Minister Keir Starmer facing criticism for being too soft on Israel. The UK government announced sanctions in June on entities involved in settler violence, but Miliband accused the government of being too lenient.

He called the E1 development plan - which would clear the way for the construction of over 1,200 new settlement homes - a "red line" that would make a Palestinian state unviable. The British embassy in Israel has expressed concern over the escalating violence, and has defended its participation in a US-led Gaza ceasefire coordination center, despite the Netherlands' decision to ban trade with Israeli settlements.