Trade sanctions imposed by Andy Burnham’s government on Israeli settlements in the West Bank are “performative” and could put the UK’s international standing at threat, shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat has said.
On Tuesday, Ed Miliband announced the government would impose sanctions on companies and individuals who finance or help create settlements in Palestinian land, which was formally recognised as a country by the Labour government last year.
The measures, which could take as long as nine months to come into force, have faced criticism over the risk they are applied to both Israeli and Palestinian businesses and individuals. The plans have also triggered a diplomatic backlash from officials in Israel and the US.
Tugendhat, who was recently promoted by Kemi Badenoch to the opposition frontbench, said the sanctions were “light” because settlers would not be targeted yet “dangerous” as the sanctions could drive sectarianism and antisemitism in the UK and abroad.
In a statement after a parliamentary debate on Tuesday, Tugendhat said the announcement was “performative politics” that did not have widespread support.
“Sadly this government has reduced complexity to a soundbite,” Tugendhat said. “The Foreign Office knows these sanctions won’t work and is acting without prudence, introducing sanctions that are both light and dangerous.
“It is also ignoring that the Israeli general election is in just seven weeks and many have argued this will help the extremists’ campaign.”
He added that the Conservatives did not reject the government’s aim to support recognition deals between Israel and neighbouring countries, nor the basis of a two-state solution between Palestinians and Israelis.
Israel hits back at trade sanctions
Miliband said settlements in the West Bank were “unlawful” and amounted to “ethnic cleansing”.
The new foreign secretary also accused the Israeli government of turning a “blind eye” to the rise of settlements across the region, which is an Israel-occupied territory.
In response to the sanctions, Israel opted to close the British Consulate in Jerusalem and removed British representatives from a support centre for Gaza. It also banned 12 parliamentarians from entering Israel, including Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbot.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the country would not follow with sanctions.
“We think it has implications as well on our ability to make progress with regards to Gaza, on the 20-point plan and the Board of Peace that we’re very committed to,” the secretary of state said.