UK Sanctions on Settlements Endanger Jewish Community, Warns MP Richard Tice
British MP Richard Tice slammed the UK's ban on West Bank settlement goods as a catastrophe that fuels antisemitism and harms intelligence ties.
The British government's decision to ban the import of goods produced in West Bank settlements continues to spark outrage and severe political criticism. In an interview with Israel Hayom, Richard Tice, deputy leader of the Reform UK party and a Member of Parliament, sharply criticized the move.
A Catastrophic Decision
"This decision is wrong on so many levels," Tice said. "It endangers the Jewish community, which will suffer from increased antisemitism; it jeopardizes cooperation between Britain, Israel, and the United States; and it puts intelligence cooperation that has saved the lives of British citizens at risk. It is simply a catastrophe."
Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the policy in Parliament during Prime Minister's Questions, stating that leadership means acting against injustice and standing by the vulnerable. However, Tice warned that the government's stance sends a dangerous signal.
"When people see that the British Foreign Secretary is attacking the Jewish state, people who dislike Jews tell themselves, 'If the government is against the Jews, I too can afford to be against them.' Bad people take this as a license to act against the Jewish community."
Clash with the Chief Rabbi
Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who identified as a proud British Jew, rejected criticism from the UK's Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who called the move a "dark day." Tice firmly sided with the Chief Rabbi, arguing that the timing—just days before Rosh Hashanah—only deepens the insult and anger within the Jewish community.
Tice claimed the decision is driven by electoral calculations as Labour attempts to win back votes from the Greens and appeal to Muslim voters amid a tight race in the polls.
Reversing the Policy
Tice, a vocal supporter of Israel who stood by the country throughout the war in Gaza, emphasized that Reform UK would reverse the sanctions if elected. He also pledged to proscribe the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization and crack down on radical groups.
Concluding with a message to Israelis, Tice said: "The Labour Party does not speak for the British people. Most Britons care about the Jewish community and understand that their security has been compromised. Keep your optimism, because better days will come."
