Miliband rejects chief rabbi's claim British Jews in greater danger after sanctions move
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has defended the government's decision to sanction Israeli settlements in the West Bank, rejecting claims by the Chief Rabbi that the move increases danger for British Jews. The issue has sparked significant debate within the UK Jewish community regarding the impact of these sanctions on domestic antisemitism.
Why it matters
The disagreement underscores the complex intersection of foreign policy, domestic community relations, and the rising concern over antisemitism in the UK.
Figure caption, Watch: 'I thought it was important to call out what's happening', says Miliband
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has rejected the chief rabbi's claim that British Jews are at greater risk after the UK announced sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Miliband said that as a "proud British Jew" he disagreed with UK Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis who described the move as a "truly dark day" that would "succeed only in bolstering the very extremism they seek to target".
"We all need to do more to tackle antisemitism," Miliband said, "But I believe we can do that and stand up for British values."
The sanctions on trade with illegal settlements in the West Bank come against a backdrop of rising antisemitic incidents across the UK.
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