Paul Adams: British-Israeli relations at their lowest point in decades

Israel's furious response to Britain's decision to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank shows how significant the policy shift has become. Britain absorbed much of the anger, but the fact that 12 countries acted together sharpened Israel's sense of outrage.

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Proud British Jew... unwavering in my support for the state of Israel

Officials in London knew the move would provoke a hostile reaction. They nevertheless appeared surprised by the speed and force of Israel's response. Israel announced the closure of the UK's consulate in East Jerusalem, which serves the West Bank and deals directly with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. It also removed British representatives from the International Gaza Support Centre, which coordinates stabilisation and relief work in the Gaza Strip.

Products made in the settlements may account for only a small share of Israel's exports. Their political symbolism, however, is powerful. For decades, Britain and other governments have regarded settlements in occupied Palestinian territory as illegal while stopping short of banning goods grown or manufactured there.

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settler terrorism is rampant

The new policy follows Britain's announcement that it accepts the 2024 International Court of Justice ruling that the occupation as a whole, including Israel's military presence, is unlawful. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband says Britain's economic relationships must reflect that position. The measures therefore target not only products, but also companies involved in settlement construction, infrastructure and finance. They include restrictions on arms sales that "materially contribute to the occupation."

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ethnic cleansing

Miliband's language has made the break especially striking. Describing himself as a "proud British Jew... unwavering in my support for the state of Israel," he spoke more directly than many of his predecessors. He said "settler terrorism is rampant" and blamed it for the "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians in parts of the West Bank, while accusing the Israeli government of turning "a blind eye to this and worse." Miliband calls the policy a reset. In practice, Adams writes, it has felt like a radical rethink, leaving British-Israeli relations at their lowest ebb for decades.

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a blind eye to this and worse