'An injustice' or 'righting a wrong': British Jews debate sanctions move

British Jews are divided over the UK government's decision to impose sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Rabbi Leo Dee, whose wife and two daughters were killed by Palestinians in the West Bank in 2023, accuses the government of singling out Jewish Israelis for economic punishment. He claims the sanctions are hypocritical and unnecessary, as the main group facing hardship would be the Palestinians employed in the settlements.

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, visiting the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair, supports the sanctions, stating that the intimidation and threats against Palestinians need to be addressed. However, he is concerned that the government's actions may be used to further demonize Israel. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, representing the Orthodox community, called the sanctions a "truly dark day" and warned that they could increase attacks against British Jews.

Meanwhile, some British Jews, like Deborah Miller, argue that the timing of the sanctions is politically motivated and would have little practical impact. The rise in antisemitic incidents across the UK has been noted, with a 20% increase since the start of the year.