UK plan to sanction illegal Israeli settlements draws criticism from US, Israel and British MPs – UK politics live
Source: www.theguardian.com ·
Section: headlines ·
Bias: Center-Left
· Published: Tue, 08 Sep 2026 09:40:55 GMT
UK to reassert support for Palestinian rights and a two-state solution in move drawing widespread criticismUK to adopt tougher stance on Israel with illegal settlements trade banPat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, was speaking for the government on the morning news programmes. Here are the points he was making about the plan to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements.McFadden said the ban was intended to stop the two-state solution being rendered impossible. He said: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.He said this move was aimed at the Israeli government, not the Israeli people. He explained: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.He stressed that Israel would remain an important trading partner for the UK. He told Sky News: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 strongly rejected Mike Huckabee’s claim that the UK government was guilty of “Jew hate”. (See 9.52am.) Asked about Huckabee’s comment, he said: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.If Britain acts against Israel, Israel will act against Britain.It’s time for the State of Israel to publicly recognize that the Malvinas Islands are Argentine territory under occupation, which the British violently steal from the Argentine people. The British are not content with merely occupying the territory; they also carry out oil drilling there and steal the money from the Argentine people.I call upon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognize Argentina’s sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and to impose sanctions on Great Britain as long as the occupation continues.Expel the British ambassador tonight!We will not be a doormat trampled by an antisemitic government, in a country conquered by radical Islam, trying to save itself from economic and social decline by attacking Jews and the State of Israel. Continue reading...
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