{
  "id": 6403103,
  "title": "Miliband defends UK settlement sanctions, says Israel’s retaliatory response is regrettable",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/miliband-defends-uk-settlement-sanctions-says-israels-retaliatory",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T09:58:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/international/article-908054"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband defended the United Kingdom's decision to impose sanctions on West Bank settlements in an interview with Sky News on Wednesday. This came in response to Israel's announcement that it would close the UK's consulate in East Jerusalem. Miliband expressed regret over Israel's announcement but stood by the UK's actions, stating they were the right thing to do and upheld British values of the rule of law and dignity for people. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had announced the closure of the UK's consulate in East Jerusalem and the expulsion of British representatives at the Kiryat Gat Civil-Military Coordination Center following Miliband's announcement of sanctions on West Bank settlements.\n\nMiliband acknowledged that the closure of the UK's consulate in East Jerusalem would be damaging for relations with the Palestinian Authority, but emphasized that the UK had weighed the costs and benefits before taking action. He defended the sanctions, asserting that they were necessary to prevent injustice and stand up for British values. Miliband criticized those who accused him and the UK government of harboring a dangerous obsession with the Jewish state, asserting that it was possible to take such actions while opposing antisemitism.\n\nWhen asked about Israel's defensive actions, Miliband stated that Israel's measures were making the country less secure. He emphasized the UK's shared deep disquiet about the situation with various allies and declined to comment on the US government's stance. Miliband made it clear that the US government had been informed of the UK's decision to impose sanctions prior to its official announcement. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later spoke to journalists, clarifying that the US would not follow the UK's lead, though he refrained from criticizing Miliband's decision.",
  "summary": "\"I regret what the Israeli government has announced, but I'm proud of what we did yesterday, and it was the right thing to do,\" Miliband said to Sky News.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The UK's sanctions on West Bank settlements mark a stand on rule of law and human dignity, straining relations with Israel but aligning with British values, and diverging from US policy.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Trump won't oppose sanctions on Israel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/trump-wont-oppose-sanctions-on-israel",
        "published": "2026-09-09T05:06:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Israel to take retaliatory steps against France after imposition of settlement sanctions - report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/israel-to-take-retaliatory-steps-against-france-after-imposition-of",
        "published": "2026-09-09T07:58:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "UK rejects Israel's 'damaging' retaliation to sanctions by ordering closure of Jerusalem consulate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/uk-rejects-israels-damaging-retaliation-to-sanctions-by-ordering",
        "published": "2026-09-09T09:28:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Miliband confident Israel intelligence sharing will continue despite 'damaging' sanctions backlash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/miliband-confident-israel-intelligence-sharing-will-continue-despite",
        "published": "2026-09-09T09:55:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Israel's response to U.K. settlement sanctions is a media-hyped nothingburger",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/israels-response-to-u-k-settlement-sanctions-is-a-media-hyped",
        "published": "2026-09-09T10:19:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Daily Briefing Sept. 9 – ‘As a Jew,’ UK’s Miliband announces sanctions on settlements",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/daily-briefing-sept-9-as-a-jew-uks-miliband-announces-sanctions-on",
        "published": "2026-09-09T11:37:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}