ANDY Burnham is facing opposition from a high-profile pro-Israel Labour group over reported plans to announce “robust” sanctions targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Labour Friends of Israel, which includes a number of high-profile Labour MPs and peers, has come out against plans for a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements.
The Prime Minister is expected to approve a trade ban as well as sanctions against individuals involved in settlement expansion.
The proposed action comes after Israel announced plans to open tenders for the construction of around 1200 settler homes in the "E1" development, amid warnings that it could effectively cut the West Bank in two and destroy hopes of a viable Palestinian state.
According to The Times, a senior Government source said Burnham wants to take a significantly more “robust” approach than his predecessor, Keir Starmer.
However, Labour Friends of Israel have opposed the prospect of a trade ban.
They said: “A boycott of trade with settlements is practically impossible and will become a de facto boycott of all of Israel, which would be deeply damaging to the UK national interest, the British Jewish community and Palestinian workers.”
Officials have reportedly raised concerns about how a ban would operate in practice, including the difficulty of distinguishing goods from settlements from those produced elsewhere in Israel.
However, other European countries have already moved to restrict trade connected to illegal settlements, which the UK is obliged to do by an International Court of Justice ruling from July 2024 that it has so far ignored.
Spain has banned imports of products originating from illegal Israeli settlements, while Ireland has passed legislation prohibiting the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The issue has divided Labour, with more than 140 of the party's MPs having signed a letter calling for the UK Government to ban trade with Israeli settlements.
Supporters of tougher action are also preparing to bring a motion to Labour's conference next month. Burnham is reportedly expected to make his announcement beforehand in order to avoid the issue dominating his first conference as leader.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband last week condemned Israel's E1 settlement project as an “unacceptable and destructive act”.
He said: “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.
“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.”
Since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister last month, the UK Government appears to have begun shifting its policy towards Israel – but so far no tangible sanctions have been announced.
Shortly before becoming Prime Minister, he apologised for Labour's response to the beginning of Israel's military action in Gaza.
He said: “I know that many people feel that at the start of Israel’s military action in Gaza, my party didn’t get it right, and I am sorry about that.”
Burnham pledged that Labour would “do better”.
He is also under increasing pressure from within Labour to recognise Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.
Emily Thornberry, chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the Government not to be deterred by arguments over the practical difficulties of imposing restrictions.
She said: “Now is the time to act. We can’t put it off any longer. We have to stop saying, ‘Oh, isn’t it difficult?’ and just get on with it.
“They’re about to put out tenders on the E1, which is the final piece of the jigsaw. It will cut the nation of Palestine in half and cut it away from access to Jerusalem.
“They have said they want to obliterate any chance of a Palestinian state. We have to stop it.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “We do not comment on speculation. The Foreign Secretary has been clear that illegal settlements threaten the viability of a Palestinian state and undermine security for both Israelis and Palestinians.”
