STATEMENT ON E1 SETTLEMENT EXPANSION

19 October 2026

The decision by the Israeli Government to open tenders for settlements in El is a direct threat to the prospect of a two-state solution and has been widely condemned by the international community. Today is the deadline for bids for the E1 settlement tender.

I want to be very clear with those considering engaging in the tendering process: we have created new powers allowing us to sanction individuals and companies involved in the construction of illegal settlements such as El.

We urge businesses and individuals not to proceed with bids for El construction tenders. They should be aware of legal and reputational consequences, including the risk of involving themselves in serious breaches of international law.

This UK Government will not accept the continued displacement of Palestinians and the unlawful occupation that persists.

That is why we committed to introduce legislation to ban goods imported from illegal settlements, and action on services that finance or facilitate them.

The British people do not want to be supporting the construction of illegal settlements.

This Government also condemns escalating settler violence in the West Bank, including recent attacks on officials from France, Belgium, Poland, and a Catholic Church representative, as well as a US journalist.

We will not be bystanders in the destruction of the two-state solution.

ED MILIBAND

FOREIGN SECRETARY

Gidon Saar: 

Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel

The obsession of the British Labour Government with Israel seemingly knows no bounds.

The days when Israel would quietly accept threats, sanctions and attempts to dictate its policies are over.

Judea and Samaria are not foreign lands to the Jewish people. Our historical rights are not subject to approval from London.

The British Labour Government would do better to address the serious challenges facing its own country rather than pursue its relentless campaign against the Jewish state.

Israel will not be intimidated by threats. We will defend our rights and our national interests.

Content: Stephen Newman Questions:

1: Stephen, You say Ed Miliband is wrong.  Briefly can you summarise why?

2: Can we dive into some of that a bit more?  Why is he wrong to say that Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria are illegal?  After all, that’s is what the UN says.

3: Why is Miliband wrong about Israel Ethnically Cleansing the West Bank of Palestinians?

4: Miliband stopped short of accusing Israel of committing Genocide in Gaza, but 74,000 dead Palestinians sounds pretty close to Genocide.  So, why is Miliband wrong to say that war crimes appear to have been committed by Israelis in Gaza?

5: You say that the Two-State Solution is not the only solution.  Why was Miliband wrong to say that that is the only solution?

6: Why is Miliband wrong to put sanctions on Israel?

7: What would it take for there to be peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis?  

8: Can you talk about what the Greens’ ‘Zionism is Racism’ policy means to UK politics?

The filming is to protect people asking the questions and their identities.