British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband sharply escalated London’s criticism of Israel on Wednesday, demanding that the Israeli government immediately cancel a major housing tender in the E1 area and warning that Britain is preparing a broader package of measures targeting Israeli policies in Yehuda and Shomron.
Miliband’s condemnation came one day after Israel published a tender covering seven residential complexes with a combined 1,234 housing units in E1, located between Yerushalayim and Ma’ale Adumim. The project is part of a larger plan for roughly 3,400 homes in the area that received approval last August.
The British foreign secretary denounced the latest step and called on the Israeli government to rescind the tender and stop moving forward with the broader construction plans.
“This Israeli Government’s publication of a tender for the E1 settlement project is an unacceptable and destructive act. E1 would cut across the heart of Palestine and risks separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem, which would endanger the viability of a two-state solution,” Miliband said in a statement condemning the move.
Miliband maintained that Britain’s objections to construction in E1 have been repeatedly communicated to Israel, while reiterating London’s position that the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel remains necessary for achieving lasting peace.
“The UK has been clear privately and publicly in our opposition to E1 and our support for a two-state solution as the only way to ensure long-term security and peace for both Palestinians and Israelis. All settlements damage that prospect and are a flagrant breach of international law,” he claimed.
According to Miliband, he personally confronted Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar over the decision. Britain also summoned Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to formally protest the tender.
“Today, I made clear to the Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar that the Israeli Government must halt E1 plans immediately, retract the tender and stop all settlement expansion. In addition, the Israeli Chargé d’Affaires has been summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, where we set out the UK’s profound objection to this move by the Netanyahu government and demanded an immediate reversal,” said Miliband.
Miliband went further, signaling that the dispute would not end with diplomatic protests and saying the British government intends to unveil additional steps against Israeli policies in the coming weeks.
“Britain will not stand back and accept the destruction of the two-state solution. In the coming weeks we will set out a comprehensive set of measures to respond to Israeli government policies, protect the viability of the Palestinian state, target sanctions at those who participate in illegal settlement expansion and support a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians,” the UK Foreign Secretary declared.
The E1 project has long been a source of international pressure on Israel. After the broader construction plan was approved last year, approximately 20 countries joined together in a letter opposing development in the area.
David Lammy, who was serving as Britain’s foreign secretary at the time, similarly attacked the project, describing the construction as “a flagrant breach of international law.”
Miliband assumed the post of British foreign secretary last month as part of a sweeping Cabinet reshuffle carried out by newly installed Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
His latest criticism of Israeli building in Yehuda and Shomron is consistent with positions he has taken on Israel for more than a decade. As Labour Party leader in 2014, Miliband shifted the party away from its previous approach and adopted a more confrontational posture toward the Israeli government.
During Israel’s 2014 war against Hamas in Gaza, Miliband called the Israeli military campaign “wrong and unjustifiable” and took then-Prime Minister David Cameron to task over Britain’s response to Palestinian civilian casualties.
Later in 2014, Miliband instructed Labour members of Parliament to back a nonbinding motion supporting unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. That decision generated friction between Labour and some Jewish donors and communal organizations.
Miliband also toured a Bedouin site during a visit to the region and criticized the expansion of Israeli communities, calling it “wrong and illegal.”
Despite his repeated criticism of Israeli government policies, Miliband has also taken positions supportive of Israel on several major issues. In the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas massacres, he resisted demands for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, instead supporting temporary humanitarian pauses.
Miliband has additionally identified Hamas as a terrorist organization, characterized rocket fire targeting Israeli communities as “totally unjustified and appalling,” and rejected the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, arguing that BDS undermines prospects for peace.
Burnham, who replaced Keir Starmer as Britain’s prime minister, has likewise signaled that his government intends to pursue a tougher policy toward Israel. He apologized for Labour’s initial reaction to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza and promised greater British pressure on the Israeli government.
Burnham has said his government would weigh further sanctions against Israeli individuals and organizations while also considering restrictions on trade involving products originating in areas he has characterized as “illegal settlements.”
The British prime minister has stopped short of labeling Israel’s military campaign in Gaza a genocide, saying that question should be determined by international courts rather than politicians. He has simultaneously pledged to continue combating antisemitism and has reiterated his condemnation of the October 7 Hamas attacks.
{Matzav.com}
