British Jewish leaders express concern to UK government over anticipated settlement trade ban

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has told the British government that anticipated sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements could damage the very peace efforts they are intended to support.

Mirvis raised his concerns during a Friday meeting with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, as British Jewish organizations responded to possible measures targeting settlement activity in the West Bank. The diplomatic dispute intensified after Israel published tenders for the E1 construction project.

“I welcomed the opportunity on Friday to meet with the Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon. Ed Miliband. While we share fervent hopes for a future of peace and security in the Middle East, I explained why I believe the UK Government’s intended sanctions will be counter-productive and even endanger such a vision of peace,” Mirvis said.

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I welcomed the opportunity on Friday to meet with the Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon. Ed Miliband. While we share fervent hopes for a future of peace and security in the Middle East, I explained why I believe the UK Government’s intended sanctions will be counter-productive and even endanger such a vision of peace.

He said many members of the community viewed the proposed measures with deep dismay. In his account, they could develop into a de facto boycott of Israel, threaten the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Palestinian workers and disproportionately affect British Jews because of their religious, family, charitable and educational ties to Israel.

Mirvis also argued that the policy would not change Israeli decision-making as intended. Instead, he said, it could embolden a small minority supporting criminality while penalizing many others. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar separately criticized Britain’s position, saying that blaming Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism had contributed to antisemitic hatred directed at British Jews. Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said community organizations had engaged with the government over possible steps related to settlement activity.

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We have engaged with the government in recent days, alongside community partners, regarding potential steps by government in relation to settlement activity.