A Shift in British Foreign Policy
In a significant shift in British foreign policy, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband declared on September 8, 2026, that the UK now officially considers the Israeli occupation of the West Bank to be unlawful. Addressing the House of Commons, Miliband announced that the government is initiating a “new approach” to support the two-state solution, citing the rapid expansion of settlements and rising settler violence as primary drivers for the policy change.
Miliband, speaking to Parliament, stated that while the UK remains committed to its bond with the Israeli people, the government’s argument is with the conduct of the Israeli administration. He emphasized that the UK’s previous stance, which stopped short of labeling the occupation itself as unlawful, was no longer sustainable given the International Court of Justice’s 2024 findings and the deteriorating reality on the ground.
Sanctions and Economic Measures
The new strategy includes comprehensive economic sanctions aimed at curbing the expansion of Israeli settlements, which the Foreign Office reports now house approximately 770,000 settlers, up from 270,000 at the time of the 1993 Oslo Accords. According to Al Jazeera, the measures include restrictions on goods produced in these settlements and a tightening of financial oversight. Miliband explicitly linked these actions to the “E1” development tenders, which he warned would effectively sever the territorial continuity of a future Palestinian state by placing settlements between East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
The Foreign Secretary also detailed a broader regional policy shift, including the re-imposition of economic sanctions on Iran in coordination with the EU and the US, and the sanctioning of Al-Qard Al-Hassan, a financing arm of Hezbollah. These moves aim to address what the government describes as a dual threat: regional instability fueled by Iranian proxies and the erosion of the two-state solution framework.
Accountability and Settler Violence
The UK government’s rhetoric has sharpened significantly regarding settler activity. Miliband stated that the government accepts the assessment that “ethnic cleansing” is being perpetrated by settler groups, citing reports of over 4,000 Palestinians displaced since 2023. The Guardian reported that the Foreign Secretary’s speech marks a break from decades of diplomatic inertia, with the government now prepared to reflect the illegality of the occupation in its trade and economic relationships.
Miliband acknowledged the internal pressure within the UK regarding rising antisemitism, confirming an additional £250 million investment in community security. He defended his dual stance—supporting Israel’s right to exist while condemning its government’s policies—by asserting that holding British Jews responsible for the actions of the Israeli state is a form of antisemitism.