Full marks Government

correct first line:

"I'm in the L party and have been a member since 1984\' (Thatcher and the Mine closures)

The papers are reporting that U.K. rabbis are in agreement with Miliband, which is good to know.

There has also been a very muted response from USA, reflecting the fact that they are very uneasy about the direction Netanyahu us taking the country.
Took them long enough to come to that realisation!

Whitewavemark2

The papers are reporting that U.K. rabbis are in agreement with Miliband, which is good to know.

There has also been a very muted response from USA, reflecting the fact that they are very uneasy about the direction Netanyahu us taking the country.
Took them long enough to come to that realisation!

When talking of anything important in the news it’s really important to get your wording right.
Some UK rabbis, mainly progressives are in agreement with Miliband but many are not.
It’s also a very split issue with all Jews in the UK.

I can only access The Guardian for free but it has a full report on who and why are backing or not backing Milliband.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/sep/09/senior-uk-rabbis-come-out-in-support-of-sanctions-on-israeli-settlements

....."But other senior rabbis, many from the progressive wing of the community, have come forward to stress the diversity of views within the British Jewish community, with some backing Miliband’s sanctions, while others warned that concern about the measures should not become an excuse for ignoring settler violence and expansion, and others calling for the government to go further.

Jonathan Wittenberg, a senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism, said he was in the Palestinian village of Umm al Khair while Miliband was delivering his speech, and had seen the results of settler violence “with my own eyes”.

What is taking place today in the West Bank is a Chillul HaShem, a violation of God’s name of the worst order. We cannot stay silent. This is terrible for Palestinian people who want to get on with their lives in peace. It is terrible for Israel,” he said.

Wittenberg added: “We must speak out. We must do so out of deep concern for what is human and just, and for the sake of Israel and Judaism. We cannot turn away.”

While he acknowledged that the British Jewish community did not have to agree with everything the British government chose to do, he said: “The time is for action.”

Rabbi Alexandra Wright from the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London, vice-chair of the British Friends of Rabbis for Human Rights, said while not everyone in the community would support the sanctions, action was needed as “the occupation and escalating violence are harming Palestinians and Israelis”.

and more, and quotes, from Jeremy Gordon, the rabbi of New London Synagogue

and Rabbi Alexandra Wright and Lev Taylor, rabbi of Kingston Liberal Synagogue in London.

Taylor
"described the sanctions as a sign “the government is moving in the right direction”. He added: “Some of my Israeli members have been campaigning for sanctions exactly like this … The Judaism in which I believe repudiates this brutal occupation.”

And "There is some consternation within the Orthodox community at the suggestion British Jews are uniformly opposed to the sanctions".

Yes, I read all of that in The Guardian this morning before I made my comment.
Jews are very split on this issue.

I am also pleased to read that well known intellectuals, and prominent Israelis are welcoming the 12 countries condemnation of Israeli action.

The British Board of deputies and the Jewish council all praise Miliband.

This action by 12 countries - which will almost certainly be joined by more is a good first action and welcomed by millions.

Whitewavemark2

I am also pleased to read that well known intellectuals, and prominent Israelis are welcoming the 12 countries condemnation of Israeli action.

The British Board of deputies and the Jewish council all praise Miliband.

This action by 12 countries - which will almost certainly be joined by more is a good first action and welcomed by millions.

Not true.
The British Board Of Deputies pleaded with Miliband not to pursue sanctions as did the Jewish Council from what I have read.

As did the Chief Rabbi.

But that is to be expected, and quite understandable surely.

The Jewish women in my interfaith group are quite clear however - it was completely needful to start actions because what is happening in the West Bank is truly terrifying for quite innocent Palestinians. Interviews last night on BBC 10pm news of

ordinary settlers just quite calmly saying well we are going to take over the whole of Palestine, Gaza included and all "its our right". Asked about what should happen to the current population, a shrug that says, "well who cares".

It just isn't OK, Oreo, I do recall going back some time you had genuine reservations about West Bank Settlements. I won't be silly and try and dig up past words, but naturally you abhorred the terrorism in Gaza, but it just ain't the same.

I do understand a concern about Jewish people in our country of course as I've made clear, but I'm afraid there are an awful lot of people in the UK prepared to obey social media instructions to turn out somewhere or other with Swastika flags. The problems of anti semitism have always been with us 😡 but it's clear to me decisions have to be made about the West Bank.

GrannyGravy13

POTUS will now increase tariffs on UK, which will increase domestic prices.

We will also loose some/all bilateral intelligence sharing. This will make UK security agencies at a greater disadvantage.

But hey ho Andy Burnham will increase his vote in the pro-Palestine community.

The US Supreme Court has declared many of Trump’s tariffs unlawful, he can play all the silly games he wants with tariffs but it will cost his government eventually.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/14/trump-tariffs-us-refunds

What on earth is the pro Palestine community please?

Somebody had to do something, it's a start.

You don’t need to dig up old threads Wyllow3 as I said only yesterday on GN that I very much disagree with the settlers intimidation of Palestinians in the West Bank.
I do have reservations about this big announcement about sanctions, because it puts Jews here in even greater peril.Let’s think about this… it’s naive of Miliband or anyone else to simply say as he has ‘it has nothing to do with British Jews, that’s just antisemitism’ well yes! Which isn’t helping anyone.
Also it’s gesture politics and may even harm anything coming out of the West Bank.
Israel share much terrorist information with us so that may stop, plus any other consequences.
It won’t actually stop anything going on in the West Bank, that’s entirely up to Israel and their plans.

An article online in the Guardian claims that intelligence sharing will not be compromised by this decision to sanction the West Bank settlers.

That’s entirely up to the Israeli government Maremia and they can change their minds at any time.

Another heading is,
Senior UK Rabbis come out in support of sanctions on Israeli settlements

The main reservation about these sanctions is that they endanger British Jews.
I realise that doesn’t matter to many.
Antisemitism has been steadily rising in the UK.

Also,
Why is Trump silent on UK sanctions against Israeli West Bank settlements?

Maremia

Another heading is,
Senior UK Rabbis come out in support of sanctions on Israeli settlements

Some senior rabbis.

That’s a big problem, working with the current Israeli government and Trump currently is very different than in recent years.
I share the concerns about anti semitism, about the way some conflate this Israeli government’s actions with beliefs of all Jewish people, wherever they live

My understanding is that the Jewish board of deputies is cross communal and therefore consists of people with a broad range of views. Some are supportive of the Govt's decision eg "Yachad" and some are not.

Oreo

The main reservation about these sanctions is that they endanger British Jews.
I realise that doesn’t matter to many.
Antisemitism has been steadily rising in the UK.

Who does that "not matter to"

Thanks Wyllow3 for the Guardian link.
I know my own Jewish friends have welcomed this.

greyfur16

Oreo

The main reservation about these sanctions is that they endanger British Jews.
I realise that doesn’t matter to many.
Antisemitism has been steadily rising in the UK.

Who does that "not matter to"

A lot of people in the UK.

Maremia

Also,
Why is Trump silent on UK sanctions against Israeli West Bank settlements?

It seems that Israeli government action has lost a lot of American support

I have seen an antisemitic attack recently. It was disgusting and frightening for the poor man involved.
It's a difficult balance. Jews in the UK shouldn't be subjected to these attacks but something has to be done about the West Bank settlers. They can't be allowed to violently take over that land.