Ed Miliband accused of ‘outrageous lies’ as sanctions row explodes_D

The Chief Rabbi has described it as “truly a dark day for British Jews” after the Government announced sanctions on illegal West Bank settlements.

Sir Ephraim Mirvis said: “Today our Government has chosen to ignore the deep concerns expressed by so many of us. The measures announced amount to little more than political flag bearing for mendacious anti-Israel rhetoric and those who harbour a dangerous obsession with the Jewish State.

“These measures will succeed only in bolstering the very extremism they seek to target. On the eve of Rosh Hashanah and at a time when our community is more vulnerable than ever to the wave of extremism that has been building over recent years, these sanctions do nothing to advance the cause of peace. Nor do they make anyone safer – quite the contrary.

“Gesture politics of this kind feeds into an increasingly hostile discourse about Israel, and the cumulative effect of such punitive policies is to further embolden those, at home and abroad, who use hatred as a weapon against Jews.”

The US “obviously” will not do what the UK has done and does not want to see any destabilising in the West Bank, Marco Rubio said as he declined to comment further on Britain’s sanctions against Israel.

Asked about the announcement made by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, the US Secretary of State told reporters: “Well, they alerted us to it. We don’t have any announcements, obviously, those are decisions that they make, and we, and the president has expressed this in the past, we don’t want to see anything destabilising going on right now in the West Bank with so much going on in the region.

“We think it has implications as well on our ability to make progress with regards to Gaza and the 20-point plan and the Board of Peace that we’re very committed to. Obviously, we’re not going to do what the UK did. We saw their announcement today, but I don’t have any comment on it right now.”

Green Party MP Hannah Spencer has hit back at calls from Nigel Farage to ban the burka. She tells the Daily Express: “People are angry about not being able to afford to put their heating on, their food shop getting more expensive and seeing the unfairness of a broken immigration system that fails everyone within it.”

Ms Spencer adds: “Telling women what they can and can’t wear won’t fix those things. But targeting Muslim women is what we’d expect from a racist party that has no actual plan to make life better for people.”

Israel will close the UK consulate in Jerusalem amid mounting backlash to the UK sanctioning goods produced in the occupied West Bank, the country’s foreign minister has announced.

A united Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Israel, and it is under the full sovereignty of Israel… Any foreign activity in the region must be made in the conventional and agreed upon ways, without any intervention in Israeli sovereignty,” Gideon Saar says.

He also says he will “expel British representatives from the International Centre for Assistance” in Gaza and Kiryat Gat.

“Turning Israel into a pariah will risk sectarian violence in our own country,” Tom Tugendhat has said.

Criticising the foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, who has announced sanctions against settler communities, he had accused the government of “acting without prudence” with the moves.

He has suggested that Mr Miliband and the Government risk encouraging further issues for Jewish communities in the United Kingdom.

Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary has said that those who “praise Hamas and other terrorist groups […] are wrong”.

Responding to the statement by Ed Miliband he had added that “cries of ‘from the river to the sea’ are wrong”.

The Conservative MP was referencing a common chant heard at pro-Palestine protests across the country.

“Today, we refuse to be bystanders to further suffering,” Mr Miliband said as he concluded his statement in which he announced sanctions on settler communities.

“Above all we say Britain is not silent in the face of deep injustice, and nor is it powerless.” the foreign secretary added as he announced that France and Canada would be joining the sanctions.

Labour will take a “new approach” to Israel, Ed Miliband has confirmed.

Hailing the former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for recognising Palestine, but added: “The Prime Minister is right to say that the Labour Government has not done enough in the face of what is happening.

“So today marks the beginning of a new approach, an approach that not only calls out injustice and suffering and in taking this stance I make a very clear distinction which is crucial for us all in this debate. Our argument is not with the people of Israel, with whom the UK has unshakeable bonds. Our argument is with the conduct of its government.”

Mr Miliband continued: “Holding British Jews responsible for the actions of the Israeli government is anti-Semitism, plain and simple.”

Ed Miliband has claimed that the Israeli government had “turned a blind eye” to the so-called “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians in the West Bank by “settler terrorists”.

He is making a statement updating the House of Commons on the government’s position on illegal settlements in the occupied territories.

Goods produced in those communities shall be banned, the Foreign Secretary has said.

Labour has “not done enough” in relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, Ed Miliband has said.

Speaking to MPs as he made his statement on sanctions, the Foreign Secretary also said that there had been “unimaginable trauma and suffering” in Gaza which he said was “a stain on the conscience of the world and of this country too”.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has announced the UK is sanctioning Hezbollah’s financing arm Al-Qard Al-Hassan.

October the 7th was a “murderous act by a murderous terrorist organisation” says Ed Miliband, as he defends Israel’s right to protect itself.

He has announced that the UK will be reporting Iran to the UN and re-imposing sanctions on the regime.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said he was a “proud British Jew” as he delivered a Commons statement expected to reset the UK’s relationship with Israel and impose sanctions on settlements in the West Bank.

Sanctions on settlers will “hinder” a peaceful two-state solution, critics have said.

Nigel Tobias, Executive Director of British Israel Chamber of Commerce, told the Daily Express: “I do not condone any illegal activity by settlers against Palestinians but sanctions on trade with Israeli companies in the West Bank are more likely to hinder, rather than help, bring about a peaceful two-state solution.

“The unintended consequences of these sanctions are likely to cause financial hardship to Palestinians, who work in Israeli companies, co-existing with their Israeli work colleagues. It also has the potential to hurt people in the UK and British companies if the Israeli government responds – as intimidated – with reciprocal action.

“Sanctions will further encourage and embolden antisemitic attacks against British Jews at a time when they’re already at record levels.”

Labour’s decision to bring in partial sanctions on Israel, targetting settler communites, has been branded an “appalling mistake” by critics.

Sir William Shawcross of the UK Israel Alliance said: “This is an appalling mistake by a weak government which ignores British national interests.

“Ed Miliband is damaging a crucial relationship with the only democracy in the Middle East that makes this country much safer.

“This reckless anti-Israel stunt will embolden our extremist enemies and drive further anti-Jewish racism.”

The latest YouGov polling puts Andy Burnham’s Labour and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK both on 23%.

This signals that if a general election was held tomorrow, nearly half the country would vote for one of these two parties.

One in five people (20%) would vote Conservative – but the pressure is on the Tory team to move ahead of Reform so Mr Farage cannot claim his party is the real Opposition.

How will Reform react to Restore Britain clocking 4% in the polls? If these voters could be brought into the Reform fold, Mr Farage would have a stronger chance of netting the majority he needs to become Prime Minister.

Andy Burnham has come under fire from the US and Israel over “irrational” plans for sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is expected to announce the restrictions when he sets out a “reset” of the UK’s relations with Israel in a Commons statement on Tuesday, as part of a toughened stance under Mr Burnham’s Government.

Here are the written ministerial statements due to be made in the Commons on Tuesday:

– Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade: UK Space Strategy.

– Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero: AI for Energy Vision publication.

– Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs: British Council loan – long-term restructuring.

– Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs: Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region.

– Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs: Iran Sanctions.

– Secretary of State for Transport: Rail Freight Growth.

The US ambassador to Israel said UK sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank are “an irrational action” and “discrimination against the Jewish people”.

Mike Huckabee told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he had “not personally” spoken to President Donald Trump about the policy this week.

The Republican politician said: “This is an irrational action. That’s what I’m saying. I don’t understand what it’s supposed to achieve.

“If the UK is really interested in dealing with issues they feel like are wrong, where are the sanctions against North Korea, China, Russia? Where are the sanctions against many other nations in the world?

“I feel like that it’s a discrimination against the Israeli government, it’s discrimination against the Jewish people and I don’t understand the rationale of it.”

He added: “I don’t know if they have thought through, it’s like throwing a stone and not having an idea of where it’s going to land.

“And I realise, look, the UK is a sovereign country, they can do what they want, but so is the US.”

The US ambassador to Israel said sanctions on settlements in the West Bank will “do great damage to any Brits who are doing business in a number of states in the US”.

Mike Huckabee told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I don’t know if they’re really aware of the implications and how it’s going to affect Brits.

“For example, 25% of pharmaceuticals that are used in the UK are made in Israel. Are they willing to give those up? It looks like they are.

“Are they willing also to do great damage to any Brits who are doing business in a number of states in the US.

“I don’t know what all of the national sanctions or repercussions or retaliations will be from the US, hasn’t been announced yet.

“But I do know that there are a number of states. Let me mention one, one of the largest US states, Florida, that has a law that if this action is taken, then Brits will not be able to do business with any company or business in Florida.”

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham will meet his Cabinet members this morning, as Ed Miliband is expected to lay out sanction plans.

The former Net Zero enthusiast will then head to the House of Commons to inform MPs of his proposed changes.

Pat McFadden was sent out to bat for the Government this morning ahead of an announcement from the Foreign Secretary on some Israeli sanctions.

An American congressman has warned that Florida will ban British firms from doing business with local authorities if the sanctions go ahead.

In a post on X, Republican Randy Fine said: “Florida has made it clear. Any company – or nation – that boycotts Israel is boycotted by Florida.”

It comes as Labour MPs and Jewish groups warn that any sanctions could amount to a “de facto boycott” of Israeli goods.

The honorary vice-chairman of Labour Friends of Israel said he warned Ed Miliband that sanctions carry “a real risk of increased chances of attacks on the British Jewish community”.

Labour MP Peter Prinsley told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “My fear is that opponents of Israel won’t distinguish between Israeli government policy, Zionistic political philosophy, and British Jews.

“As far as they’re concerned, the whole thing’s the same, and I think it carries a real risk of increased chances of attacks on the British Jewish community.

“Which is exactly what I said to Ed Miliband when I was asked to see him two or three nights ago.

“I think the timing is terrible. I think we need to wait for the result of the Israeli election, and then we need to have another think.”

Mr Prinsley added: “We must do whatever we can to preserve the two-state solution, and I think the behaviour of the presently-elected Israeli government is really outrageous in this respect. I have a horrible feeling that what we’re doing will not only embolden the present government of Netanyahu, but has the capacity to influence the election itself, which is on a knife edge.”

Andy Burnham will meet with his top ministers at 9.15am.

He will set out his plans to shift Britain’s stance on Israel there, before announcing it to the Commons this afternoon.

The Prime Minister is expected to unveil a package of trade sanctions targeting settlements.

New sanctions on Israeli West Bank settlements are “specifically targeted” and not intended to be a “boycott of all Israeli goods”, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said.

Asked how it would be possible to tell whether goods come from settlements in the West Bank or the rest of Israel and to address concerns this could amount to an overall boycott by the back door, he told Sky News: “The Foreign Secretary will set out details of how this will operate when he stands up in Parliament this afternoon.

“But I think it’s also important to say that Israel is an important trading partner for the UK. This isn’t intended to be a boycott of all Israeli goods.”

He added: “It’s measures specifically targeted at the expansion of these settlements, which are illegal under international law, in the West Bank.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden has rejected the accusation of “Jew hate” from US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

He told Sky News: “I fundamentally reject that. When it comes to the Jewish community in the UK, this is a really important part of our society.

“I want Jewish people in the UK to be able to live their lives freely in education, in work, in worship, in all aspects of their lives, and I and every Government minister would condemn any attacks on the Jewish community here in the UK.”

The chairman of the Hampshire Police Federation said seven police officers “were assaulted” during an anti-migrant demonstration in Portsmouth.

Spencer Wragg told LBC: “We’ve had several officers that were assaulted, obviously during that incident. The number is seven officers.

“Thankfully, there’s no major injuries, but we’ve seen a plethora of different injuries caused in different ways. There’s been a lot of criminal damage as well as the assault on my colleagues.

“What we saw was people breaking the law, assaulting officers, causing damage to property, and I’m sure for those residents in that area, that must be quite a frightening experience.”

Asked if any arrests were made, Mr Wragg said: “There were no arrests made on the night.

“Obviously, as you would expect, and there’s an ongoing investigation, and I’ll anticipate there will be arrests in the coming days and weeks.”

Israel is still an important ally, a minister has insisted as the UK is expected to toughen its stance with sanctions on settlements in the West Bank.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told Times Radio that Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband would set out details in a statement to Parliament later today.

“At the heart of the statement is the idea that the UK, along with many other countries, do not want to see the possibility of a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine being erased by changes to the facts on the ground, and the reason that danger has become more urgent is because of expanded settlement activity in recent weeks and months.”

Plans in the so-called E1 area could see the “effective cutting off of the north of the West Bank from the south of the West Bank”, he said.

Asked why Andy Burnham had not spoken to Israel’s prime minister about the move, he said: “I’m sure he will speak to the prime minister of Israel.

“But Israel is an important security ally, and in the context of what we’re saying today, I think it’s also important to distinguish between action which is announced in response to policies of this Israeli government at this time, and the people of Israel and the links between Israel and the UK, which are important and valuable and will continue to be so.”

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the Government’s announcement on sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank was “performative posturing”.

The Conservative MP told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We think it’s performative posturing.

“It’s very difficult to distinguish goods that come from the West Bank area versus the rest of Israel. So practically, it’s very difficult to implement.

“It also risks damaging an important security relationship because we do rely, the UK relies, on Israel for vital information and intelligence about terrorist threats.

“But I would also like to say, that said, we do oppose the building of settlements on land which is Palestinian, whether that’s sponsored by the Israeli state or simply allowed to happen, because we do think a two-state solution is the right solution, and building settlements on Palestinian land is obviously wrong.

“But this performative sanctions is not the right thing to do.”

Labour lost the support of many of its left-wing backers under Sir Keir Starmer over his initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza following Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel in 2023.

Prime Minister Mr Burnham, who was among senior party figures to have called for a ceasefire by late October that year, previously suggested he would change the Government’s approach to the conflict soon after coming to office in July.

He has voiced particular concerns about the E1 settlement, where Israel has given final approval for a controversial project that would effectively separate the occupied West Bank from East Jerusalem.

Israel has already threatened to retaliate if the UK imposes sanctions over the potential expansion of settlements in the West Bank, with foreign minister Gideon Saar warning: “If Britain acts against Israel, Israel will act against Britain.”

Ed Miliband is set to announce sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank as part of a toughened stance under Andy Burnham’s Government.

The Foreign Secretary is expected to set out a “reset” of the UK’s relations with Israel in a Commons statement on Tuesday.

Ministers have suggested goods coming out of the illegal settlements in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory, could be subject to trade restrictions as part of the changes.

The Prime Minister discussed the Middle East with US President Donald Trump in a phone call on Monday ahead of the intervention, which risks drawing criticism from Washington, Israel’s closest ally.

It has been reported that the Trump administration would make a statement attacking the intervention.

Patriot Platform founder Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo – an associate of right-wing activist Tommy Robinson – confronted Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf, telling him Mr Farage needs to be “careful with his words”.

Interrupting an interview the home affairs spokesman was conducting, Mr Thomas accused Mr Farage of calling protesters at the Unite the Kingdom rally in London earlier in the year “knuckle-draggers”.

Mr Thomas was a leader of the Portsmouth protest on Sunday.

Reform UK’s leader said seeing masked people in the streets should not be accepted as “part of modern Britain”.

“Which is why Reform UK is calling for a ban on all full-face coverings in public spaces,” the party leader continued.

“No ifs, no buts. And yes, that includes religious ones too.”

He added: “This is not a matter of targeting one group.

“It’s about saying that in a civilised soci­ety, people should be identifiable in pub­lic.”

Nigel Farage has called for full face coverings to be banned in public “once and for all” after masked protesters gathered for anti-migrant demonstrations over the weekend.

The Reform UK leader labelled face coverings a “menace” and made clear he would ban religious ones as well.

It comes after crowds of masked, black-clad men blocked road access to the Port of Dover on Saturday, in scenes which were condemned by politicians of all parties.