UK rabbis condemn Israeli settlements and support Burnham’s sanctions

• Foreign secretary Ed Miliband has announced a UK trade ban on goods imported from illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, describing the forced removal of Palestinian families as ethnic cleansing.
• Prime minister Andy Burnham defended the sanctions in the House of Commons during Prime Minister's Questions, stating that Britain must demonstrate international leadership and stand up against injustice.
• Prominent UK rabbis from the progressive Jewish community have publicly backed the government's measures, describing settler violence as a severe violation of faith, despite opposition to the sanctions from chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis.
• Public support for the trade restrictions stands at 52 per cent according to a YouGov poll, placing the UK alongside 11 other nations including Canada and France that have penalised ongoing developments in the E1 corridor.
• Donald Trump questioned the timing of the UK ban and announced plans to consult with Israeli officials, although reports suggest he did not object to the measure during a phone call with Andy Burnham.

IN FULL

Senior rabbis show support for Burnham’s sanctions on illegal Israeli West Bank settlements