Israel accuses ‘patronising’ Miliband of damaging relationship with UK
Jewish state claims Labour ‘turning a blind eye’ to Palestinian terrorism and to blame for rising anti-Semitism at home
20 August 2026
Ed Miliband said that Israel’s plans for thousands of houses in the West Bank would undermine the viability of a Palestinian state Credit: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Israel has said that Ed Miliband’s “patronising” criticism of its West Bank plans has damaged Britain’s relationship with the country.
Mr Miliband, the Foreign Secretary [who is Jewish], attacked Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration over its “unacceptable” plan to build an enormous settlement in the West Bank, claiming that it risked destroying the two-state solution.
Gideon Sa’ar, the Israeli foreign minister, hit back at his counterpart, saying: “The UK Government’s decision to damage the relationship between our countries is deeply unfortunate.”
Mr Miliband confirmed hours earlier that he would bring forward fresh sanctions after the Israeli government published a tender for the construction of the E1 project. The plan involves building 3,300 homes between Jerusalem and the Jordan border.
Critics fear that it would effectively cut the West Bank in two and prevent a contiguous body of land forming the basis of a viable Palestinian state.
Britain has existing sanctions against a loosely defined group of violent Right-wing extremists following a previous crackdown on settler violence.
“This Israeli government’s publication of a tender for the E1 settlement project is an unacceptable and destructive act,” Mr Miliband said.
The Foreign Secretary proceeded to accuse Israel of putting the prospect of a two-state solution, in which Israel and Palestine could peacefully coexist, at risk. 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.”
Mr Miliband also pledged to bring forward “a comprehensive set of measures to respond to Israeli government policies”, including sanctions on those taking part in illegal settlements.
However, on Wednesday, Mr Sa’ar wrote on X: “I reject outright the statement of the UK Foreign Secretary and the patronising tone of his words. The Jewish people have the right to live throughout the land of Israel, just as the British have the right to live in London and throughout the United Kingdom.”
Mr Sa’ar declared it was “absurd for Britain to lecture the Jewish people about where they may live in their historic tiny homeland”. He went on to claim that no new policy decisions had been made on E1, and that the decision to press ahead with the settlement was made last year.
Mr Sa’ar added: “The British Foreign Secretary’s statement is entirely one-sided. It condemns Israel while turning a blind eye to Palestinian terrorism, incitement and the Palestinian Authority’s continued financial support for terror – the ‘pay for slay’ policy.
“The UK Government’s systematic policy of blaming only Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism has already contributed to a massive wave of anti-Semitic hatred and attacks against the British Jewish community.
“Continuing down this path will only make the situation worse. The UK Government’s decision to damage the relationship between our countries is deeply unfortunate. But Israel will not be a passive victim of this policy. Israel will defend its rights, its interests and its people.”
Labour recognised a Palestinian state in September 2025 under Sir Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham’s predecessor, almost two years after the Oct 7 terror attacks by Hamas, which triggered the subsequent Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
Sir Keir initially refused to call for an immediate ceasefire after Oct 7, despite Mr Burnham, then the mayor of Greater Manchester, demanding an end to hostilities within three weeks.
The former prime minister’s position on the conflict cost Labour heavily at the ballot box among hard-Left and Muslim voters. At the general election in 2024, five independent MPs were elected on a pro-Gaza ticket.
Shortly before entering Downing Street, Mr Burnham pledged to impose further sanctions on Israel and apologised for Sir Keir’s response to the Gaza conflict.
In an interview with The Guardian, the now Prime Minister said that under his predecessor’s leadership, Labour “didn’t get it right” in its initial response to Israeli military action.
The pledge to impose further sanctions on Israel prompted a backlash from Jewish leaders and Labour figures.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council, two of the UK’s leading Jewish organisations, rebuked Mr Burnham over his remarks. They said: “Anti-Semitism cannot be confronted without addressing all its drivers. In today’s Britain, this includes Islamist, far-Left and far-Right extremists who go beyond criticism of the Israeli government to a place of hatred directed at Jews and Israelis.”
Mr Burnham and Mr Miliband’s plan for further sanctions will also risk creating a rupture with Donald Trump, whose support for Israel since Oct 7 has largely been steadfast.
However, relations between Mr Netanyahu and the US president appear to have deteriorated in recent months.
Mr Netanyahu rejected Mr Trump’s peace deal in Gaza earlier this month, suggesting it would turn the enclave into “Hamastan”.