UK's Burnham to Ban Trade With Israeli Settlements — SkimNews
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- UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government is expected Tuesday to ban trade with Jewish settlements in the West Bank, adopting a stronger policy on an issue important to his governing Labour Party.
- Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will announce the new sanctions regime, which Bloomberg's sources said is limited to Jewish settlements in the West Bank rather than targeting Israel broadly.
- Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right Israeli government has threatened retaliation against London, with Netanyahu fighting for reelection next month.
- The sanctions move risks angering Donald Trump, setting up a potential diplomatic clash with Washington over UK policy on Israeli settlements.
Why it matters: Burnham is staking out Labour's position on settlements — a domestic priority — but the move simultaneously provokes Netanyahu's threatened retaliation and risks angering Trump, whose displeasure could carry diplomatic costs. With Netanyahu facing reelection next month, the UK-Israel clash lands at a politically sensitive moment for both leaders.
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