UK’s Burnham risks Trump anger with new sanctions on Israel

The incoming UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, is set to implement new sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank on Tuesday, as part of his push for a more critical stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This move is aimed at aligning his Labour Party with its members' desires for stronger action on the issue, but may lead to tension with the United States under President Donald Trump.

Ed Miliband, the UK foreign secretary, is expected to announce the sanctions regime targeting the Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The announcement comes after a phone conversation between Burnham and Trump, where the latter was informed about the impending sanctions, according to a Downing Street readout. However, the White House has not yet commented on the matter.

The sanctions could include measures to prevent the exchange of goods and services with Israeli settlements. The UK government is also considering expanding existing human rights sanctions to cover the obstruction of aid, which has contributed to the Gaza humanitarian crisis. The foreign secretary is also contemplating endorsing the International Court of Justice's non-binding 2024 opinion, which deems Israel's occupation of the territory now recognized as Palestine as unlawful.

Despite the potential backlash from the Trump administration, UK officials are privately assuring the US that the sanctions will be symbolic and have minimal impact on UK-Israel trade or security relations. The proposals were developed following Israel's decision to issue a tender for constructing 1,200 settlement homes in a specific section of the West Bank, reigniting disputes between settlers and Palestinians.

Burnham's leadership style differs from his predecessor, Keir Starmer, who had initially taken a more measured approach. Burnham has already expressed regret over Labour's stance during Starmer's tenure, acknowledging that the party "didn't get it right" in dealing with Israel's military actions in Gaza. Burnham aims to demonstrate that Labour is taking a firmer stance on the matter, a move that may have contributed to his appointment as Labour's new leader following Starmer's departure.