A majority of Britons support the government’s decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This is according to a YouGov snap poll conducted on Wednesday. The results show that 52% of respondents approve of the trade restrictions announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband as part of the Labour Party’s pledge to pursue a tougher policy in support of Gaza.
Of the 4,506 British adults surveyed, 33% said they “strongly support” the ban, while 19% said they “tend to support” it. 17% of respondents opposed the move: 10% strongly oppose it, and 7% tend to oppose it. Another 31% were undecided.
Defending the sanctions and the reaction
Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the measures during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday. “In this complex and dangerous world, Britain must stand by its principles. Britain must show leadership, Britain must stand for justice against injustice,” he said.
The new measures restrict the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements, introduce financial sanctions against developers, and suspend export licences for weapons that facilitate the occupation.
These steps follow mounting international criticism of Israel’s plans for further development in the E1 corridor. Development there could separate the northern and southern parts of the West Bank from East Jerusalem, which critics argue would make a contiguous territory for a two‑state solution geographically impossible.
In July 2024, the International Court of Justice confirmed in an advisory opinion that Israeli policy regarding settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories is contrary to international law.
The Stop the War Coalition welcomed the policy shift, calling the ban “a positive step towards ending Britain’s years of complicity.” The organisation emphasized that this should be “a starting point, not the limit.”
The coalition called for a full two‑way arms embargo, specifically targeting components for F‑35 fighter jets, which it says have been used by Israel in Gaza. It warned that current restrictions leave loopholes and cover only a fraction of the broader system of occupation and apartheid.
Israel described the British measures as “a serious miscalculation.” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar warned: “If Britain acts against Israel, Israel will act against Britain.”
Sa’ar also confirmed retaliatory steps: Israel will close the British consulate in East Jerusalem, recall British representatives from the international coordination centre in Gaza, and bar 12 British MPs and activists from entering the country.
Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom Sir Ephraim Mirvis described the decision to impose restrictions as “gesture politics,” saying it would only fuel the extremism it is meant to counter.
Source: The Independent UK
