Ed Miliband has been accused of creating “an atmosphere for violence against Jews” in Britain by launching a series of sanctions on Israeli settlements.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told the Commons a “new approach” was necessary because plans for the E1 development in the West Bank would render a two-state solution “unviable” by “cutting through the heart of Palestine”.
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The former Labour leader also accused settler “terrorists”, supported by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, of committing ethnic cleansing in the occupied West Bank.
Responding to Mr Miliband’s comments, Alex Gandler, a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in the UK, told the BBC the “sanctions and the way they were presented create a fertile ground for antisemitism to flourish”.
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He added: “It definitely does not promote the relationship between Israel and the United Kingdom, that is for sure, and it does create an atmosphere for violence against Jews.”
Yesterday, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said people who “use hatred as a weapon against Jews” will be emboldened by Labour’s decision.
He said: “The measures announced amount to little more than political flag-bearing for mendacious anti-Israel rhetoric and those who harbour a dangerous obsession with the Jewish State.
“These measures will succeed only in bolstering the very extremism they seek to target.”
Legislation underpinning the new sanctions regime could take up to nine months to implement, the Foreign Secretary told Parliament.
Mr Miliband rejected the Chief Rabbi’s assessment when questioned this morning, telling Sky News: “I’m a proud British Jew and I don’t agree with the Chief Rabbi. I have great respect for the Chief Rabbi but I don’t agree with him.”
Speaking to LBC, the Foreign Secretary insisted the measures did not represent a dark day for the Jewish community, arguing it was possible to challenge Israeli government policy while simultaneously combating antisemitism.
He said: “British Jews, or Jews anywhere, should not be held responsible for the actions of the government of Israel. That is antisemitism, pure and simple.”
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Mr Miliband acknowledged the risk that the sanctions could embolden antisemites but maintained the country could not allow its moral compass to be dictated by “people blinded by hatred.”
Israel struck back swiftly, with foreign minister Gideon Saar announcing the closure of Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem and barring Your Party and Green MPs from entering the country, among them former shadow Labour frontbench Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott and John McDonnell.
Mr Saar warned that “those who act against Israel, Israel will act against them”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctions had “implications” for progress on Gaza, while ambassador Mike Huckabee branded the move an “irrational act” and accused the British Government of “Jew hate.” Donald Trump has yet to respond formally.
At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Andy Burnham defended the decision, telling MPs: “Britain has to stand for something. Britain has to show leadership. Britain has to stand for fairness against injustice.”
The Jewish Leadership Council said the trade restrictions did “nothing to advance peace, risks harming Jewish life in Britain, and damages the UK’s relationship with a vital ally.”
The organisation accused Labour of imposing sanctions to appease Islamist extremists.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch attacked the Government in the Sun, calling the move “performative politics, designed to appease Labour MPs and activists regardless of the consequences for Britain.”
Jewish peace group Yachad offered a contrasting view, welcoming the announcement as “an important and necessary development” that was “not anti-Israel” and “certainly not antisemitic.”
Greater Manchester Police confirmed it was deploying additional resources to protect Jewish communities during the High Holidays beginning with Rosh Hashanah on Friday.
Asked his thoughts on comments from Sir Ephraim Green Party leader Zack Polanski said he was concerned “any time that anyone conflates antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli government”.
He added: “Actually, ironically, I think this leads to more antisemitism because it blurs the lines from people who should know better.”
Mr Polanski continued: “What I would say to anyone who represents any religion or any group of people is, we need to be really specific with our language, we need to be really clear and sensitive.
“I think in a situation like this, where the Israeli government have to be challenged, to conflate a challenge to the Israeli government and a challenge to the settlers and the ethnic cleansing, as an attack on British Jews, actually makes me as a Jewish person feel less safe.
“I think everyone needs to be sensitive, including myself, about the language we use and how we talk about the situation.”
He added he was “proud” that Green MPs had been “staunch in their standing up for peace”, following an announcement all five were banned banned from entering Israel.
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