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Miliband defends sanctions on Israeli settlements and pushes back against chief rabbi’s criticism – UK politics live
UK NewsPoliticsSeptember 9, 2026 at 9:38 AMNational

Miliband defends sanctions on Israeli settlements and pushes back against chief rabbi’s criticism – UK politics live

By Andrew SparrowThe Guardian - UK News

UK foreign secretary ‘regrets’ Israel’s response to ban on trade with illegal settlements but ‘proud’ of his actionsUK accuses Israeli ‘terrorists’ of ethnic cleansing in West Bank with government backingA spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in London has accused the UK of deploying a diplomatic “nuclear option” against his country.In an interview with the Today programme this morning, Alex Gandler said:A response and a conversation between friends is something that is wanted.Operating a nuclear option of sanction between democratic countries, especially towards a country that is at war for the past few years and is fighting a shared enemy in Iran, is something that is unheard of.The timing couldn’t be worse than it is regarding Israel, as we are less than 50 days away from elections in the country, days away from our high holidays in Israel.It definitely does not promote the relationship between Israel and the United Kingdom, that is for sure, and it does create an atmosphere for violence against Jews. Continue reading...

UK foreign secretary ‘regrets’ Israel’s response to ban on trade with illegal settlements but ‘proud’ of his actions

A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in London has accused the UK of deploying a diplomatic “nuclear option” against his country.

In an interview with the Today programme this morning, Alex Gandler said:

A response and a conversation between friends is something that is wanted.

Operating a nuclear option of sanction between democratic countries, especially towards a country that is at war for the past few years and is fighting a shared enemy in Iran, is something that is unheard of.

The timing couldn’t be worse than it is regarding Israel, as we are less than 50 days away from elections in the country, days away from our high holidays in Israel.

It definitely does not promote the relationship between Israel and the United Kingdom, that is for sure, and it does create an atmosphere for violence against Jews.

Continue reading...