'Symbolic' UK sanctions on Israel aim to avoid Washington's wrath

The UK has imposed symbolic sanctions on Israel in an attempt to avoid the wrath of Washington, according to a recent report. Prime Minister Andy Burnham arrived in Downing Street with promises of change, but the reality is that Britain continues to align itself with the US and Israel, even as it criticizes their actions.

Burnham, who succeeded Keir Starmer, offered an apology for Labour's handling of Israel's attack on Gaza, but stopped short of recognizing it as a genocide. This was seen as an implicit acknowledgment that Starmer's support for Israel was damaging to the Labour Party.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a ban on British companies investing in illegal West Bank settlement projects and a ban on goods imported from Israeli settlements. However, these measures are seen as cosmetic and not effective in stopping Israel's actions.

In fact, the UK government has allowed RAF bases to be used for military traffic to Israel, despite complaints from the Trump administration. This includes flights of US military aircraft using RAF Mildenhall and Lakenheath, as well as an RAF A400M flight to Tel Aviv.

While the political noise surrounding the sanctions may mask an underlying continuity, the reality is that Britain remains obedient to the US and Israel. The use of RAF bases for military flights to Israel, despite the government's claims, highlights this continued alignment.