‘Rhetoric differs’: How the UK’s relationship with Israel took a downturn
The UK is planning to take new steps against illegal Israeli settlements as Palestinians suffer more violence.
The United Kingdom is expected to announce trade restrictions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, the latest sign, some analysts say, that UK-Israeli relations have taken another downturn.
Britain is one of Israel’s strongest allies in the West, but since the Labour Party came back to power after more than a decade in opposition, some of the government’s policies and rhetoric have shifted.
On the one hand, the UK still maintains diplomatic ties and supplies F-35 parts through the global pool programme that Israel can access. On the other, it has suspended some arms-export licences and more regularly condemns the conduct of the Israeli military and settlers.
So far, there are few details on how the government will impose these trade restrictions and on which goods more specifically.