UK to sanction trade from Israeli settlements in West Bank
The move follows weeks of attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian villages in the illegally occupied territory that some Western governments fear threatens the two-state solution.
Britain's new Labour government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is poised to impose sanctions on trade from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to a ministerial announcement. This move has sparked controversy, drawing criticism from Israel and the United States. The UK government aims to keep the possibility of a Palestinian state alongside Israel alive, according to Minister Pat McFadden, who did not provide further details about the measures.
The sanctions could potentially impact trade between the UK and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which amounted to £38 million (US$51 million) in 2025. Some Western governments have expressed concerns that the escalating violence by Israeli settlers threatens the two-state solution. The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, referred to the decision as "irrational," while Israeli officials warned of retaliatory action.
Despite the backlash, Burnham emphasized that the sanctions are not intended to be a boycott of all Israeli goods and that Israel remains an important trading partner for the UK.
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