LONDON — Britain has announced one of its most aggressive policy shifts toward Israel in years, with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband unveiling a sweeping package of restrictions targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, a move that has drawn fierce criticism from Israel and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

Speaking in the House of Commons Tuesday, Miliband announced that Britain will introduce an import ban on goods produced in Israeli communities in the West Bank, along with sanctions targeting companies and individuals involved in construction, infrastructure financing and real estate connected to settlement expansion.

Miliband, who is Jewish (Nebuch) and has spoken publicly about his family’s connection to Israel, opened his parliamentary remarks by describing himself as a “proud British Jew” and recalling how Israel provided a home and sanctuary for members of his family who survived the Holocaust.

But despite that personal history, Miliband delivered an extraordinary condemnation of Israeli policies, declaring that the British government believes “there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank, perpetrated by settler terrorists.”

He accused Israeli authorities of failing to prevent what he described as forced displacement and announced that Britain would go beyond previous warnings by imposing actual economic restrictions.

“I do not believe the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops and supermarkets,” Miliband said, announcing the import ban. He added that companies involved in “construction, infrastructure financing or real estate for settlement expansion” would also face sanctions.

The British government insists the measures are directed at settlement policy rather than Israel as a whole. Miliband stressed that Israel remains an important British trading partner and said the move is not intended as a blanket boycott of Israeli products.

Those with a moral compass, however, see the policy as another example of a glaring international double standard when it comes to Israel.

While European governments have repeatedly mobilized diplomatic and economic pressure over Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria, critics question why similarly aggressive measures are not directed at regimes and organizations responsible for terrorism, religious persecution, dictatorship and mass human-rights abuses.

That criticism was echoed forcefully by Huckabee.

“This is an irrational action,” Huckabee said. “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?” he asked.

Huckabee also accused the British government’s approach of discriminating against Israel and warned that the decision could have consequences for British businesses operating in the United States. He has separately accused the British government of “Jew hate,” a charge Miliband has strongly rejected.

President Herzog Warns against the sanctions: “This will prove to be a grave miscalculation, a decision that will fall on the wrong side of history, and a gross interference in the democratic elections of a sovereign nation. And it will serve no one. It will directly harm – unfortunately – Palestinians, robbing them of business and employment. And, ultimately, it will undermine the interests and national security of freedom-loving nations. Sanctions are not a solution. Dialogue is. I say to all foreign governments: Stop! Step away from the dead-end of sanctions and boycotts. And turn toward constructive dialogue and toward cooperation.”

The British announcement was backed by a group of 12 countries — Britain, Canada, France, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden — which said they intend to introduce or support restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements. Ireland, Spain, Norway and Belgium have already taken steps in that direction.

The governments specifically pointed to the proposed E1 development area, claiming that its construction could undermine the possibility of a future Palestinian state.

Israel strongly rejects the international characterization of Judea and Samaria as simply “occupied Palestinian territory,” maintaining that the territory is disputed and that Jews have deep historical, religious and national ties to the area.

The British move also comes amid an increasingly bitter diplomatic confrontation between London and Jerusalem. Israel has responded by announcing the closure of its consulate in East Jerusalem and additional measures against British officials.

With European governments increasingly coordinating economic measures against Israeli communities, critics warn that what is being presented as opposition to settlement policy risks becoming another chapter in Europe’s long and troubling pattern of isolating and singling out the Jewish state.

Dear @Ed_Miliband,
Congratulations. Your pathetic, performative politics just poked a real bear.
Your bans puts British businesses on a collision course with American antiboycott law.
Let me explain what you’ve just walked them into. 🧵 https://t.co/Xp6M5Aqabo

— Mark Goldfeder (@MarkGoldfeder) September 8, 2026

You are not just a Jew burning the Jewish flag – you are a Brit burning the British flag too.

You are standing up for Hamas – for Hezbollah – for Iran – and for terrorist supporters everywhere.

"what is right" has nothing to do with it.https://t.co/7YULbryPch

— David Collier (@mishtal) September 8, 2026

Dear @UN, your blind spot is showing.#unmasktheUN pic.twitter.com/ENsLWSu884

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) September 8, 2026

"This is an irrational action… if the UK is really interested in dealing with issues they feel like are wrong, where are the sanctions against North Korea, China, Russia?"

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who has accused the UK government and Ed Miliband of 'Jew hate'… pic.twitter.com/kPdVVudWn3

— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) September 8, 2026

President @Isaac_Herzog Warns Against Sanctions on Israel by the UK:

“This will prove to be a grave miscalculation, a decision that will fall on the wrong side of history, and a gross interference in the democratic elections of a sovereign nation.

And it will serve no one. It… pic.twitter.com/D2JkfrBS50

— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) September 8, 2026