Ed Miliband Rejects Chief Rabbi's Criticism Over West Bank Sanctions
· World · BBC News, Le Monde.fr
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has publicly disagreed with UK Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis regarding the government's decision to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Sir Ephraim had characterized the move as a dark day that would embolden extremism and increase hostility toward British Jews. Miliband, identifying as a proud British Jew, argued that the government can simultaneously stand up for British values and address antisemitism. The Community Security Trust reported 1,926 anti-Jewish incidents in the UK during the first half of 2026, marking a 21% increase compared to the same period in 2025. While organizations like the Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed concern over the sanctions, groups such as Na'amod and Yachad welcomed the government's action against the occupation.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights deep divisions within the British Jewish community regarding the UK government's foreign policy toward Israel and its potential impact on domestic social cohesion.
Read the original report — BBC News
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