Ed Miliband clashes with chief rabbi over UK sanctions on Israeli settlements

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has rejected the chief rabbi’s warning that sanctions targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank could make British Jews less safe.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called the measures a “dark day for British Jews” and warned they could embolden people who “use hatred as a weapon against Jews”.

Asked by BBC Radio 4 whether Mirvis was wrong, Miliband, who describes himself as a “proud British Jew”, said: “Yes, I am saying I don’t agree with the chief rabbi, somebody over whom I have great respect.”

Miliband said criticism of Israel must be separated from antisemitism.

“Antisemitism is a scourge and an evil … I want Jews, I want people of all faiths and none to feel safe in our country,” he told the BBC.

The UK announced sweeping sanctions Tuesday targeting trade with Israeli settlements, while declaring Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territory unlawful.

The measures were coordinated with France, Canada and nine other countries.

Israel responded by ordering the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem and banning 12 British MPs and activists.

Miliband told Sky News he was “proud of what we did yesterday and it was the right thing to do”, despite acknowledging the consulate closure would be “damaging”.