UK Bans Trade with Illegal West Bank Settlements for Two-State Solution

The UK government has announced a ban on goods from illegal settlements in the West Bank as part of its first foreign policy move under Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The decision aims to support the possibility of a “two-state solution” by ending trade that contributes to Israeli settlements in occupied territory.

Only a small portion of the $8.12 billion in UK-Israel trade comes from the West Bank. Israel had planned to expand settlements in the E1 area east of Jerusalem, which would divide the West Bank and make a contiguous Palestinian state nearly impossible. This plan has been criticized by international law as it violates United Nations resolutions.

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will formally announce the ban in the House of Commons on September 8, 2026. Before becoming Prime Minister, Burnham apologized for his predecessor’s earlier stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, stating Labour needed to improve its approach.

Israeli President criticized the UK’s decision, calling it “a mistake in history” and accusing the UK of interfering in Israel’s upcoming Knesset elections in October. U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, called the ban “irrational” during a BBC interview. He warned that British businesses could face consequences in certain U.S. states, such as Florida, if sanctions are imposed.

Earlier this week, Huckabee accused the UK government of “Jew hate” on social media. When asked about Ed Miliband’s Jewish background, Huckabee compared it to Americans who “don’t like America very much.”