Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced new sanctions targeting Israeli settlements, a move described as having been delivered with "maximum theatricality." The announcement on September 8, 2026, saw significant engagement from government backbenchers, with Labour MPs reportedly eager for the policy change.
Miliband, who stated he is a "proud British Jew," connected the sanctions to personal memories of visiting his grandmother in Tel Aviv and spending time on a kibbutz with his cousins. He characterized recent actions in the "illegal settlements" as "ethnic cleansing," which he said had caused him "a sense of shame" and prompted the decision for a "new approach" to British foreign policy on Israel.
The statement, lasting 21 minutes, was more than twice the usual length for such ministerial announcements. Miliband's delivery was noted for its intensity, with descriptions of his "eyeballs bored in on his nose" and "trembling fingers," indicating he was "tremendously wound up." His remarks reportedly shifted in tempo and animation, becoming more personal and subdued when speaking affectionately of Israel, and more animated during accusatory passages.
Opposition to the policy was voiced by some within the Labour party, including Damien Egan and Preet Gill. However, Conservative presence was notably sparse, with only a few, such as Sir Oliver Dowden and Jack Rankin, actively challenging Miliband's statement. The article suggests that some traditional Conservative allies of Israel may have abstained from opposing the measures.
Tom Tugendhat, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, questioned the "performative politics" aspect of the announcement and raised concerns about potential impacts on "innocent Palestinians and Israelis." He also posed a hypothetical scenario regarding Palestine's embassy being staffed by Hamas terrorists.
Miliband concluded by asserting that the policy was "about our psychology as a country." Tulip Siddiq, a Labour MP, invoked Miliband's late mother, suggesting she would have been proud, leading to a reflection that the move might also be influenced by personal family and past political experiences.