ISRAEL HAYOM (by agreement with JNS)
How an American warning stopped Britain from dropping the hammer on Israel
Danny Zaken
September 9, 2026
Despite the profound anger in Israel over Britain’s recently announced sanctions, mounting evidence suggests that London is actively working to de-escalate the diplomatic crisis. Israel Hayom has learned that a significantly broader and harsher package of sanctions was initially on the table. However, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham faced intense domestic criticism and stark warnings that severe measures could jeopardize the unique security relationship with Israel. Critics also cautioned that such a move could inadvertently boost Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the right-wing bloc in the upcoming elections, while potentially triggering a fierce American backlash. A senior diplomatic official revealed that American officials worked behind the scenes during the bilateral talks, explicitly warning the British government against overplaying its hand. READ MORE
MEDIA LINE Israel Closes British Consulate, Imposes Countermeasures Over UK Sanctions Israel announced Tuesday that it will close the British Consulate in Jerusalem, remove British representatives from a Gaza support center, and bar 12 British elected officials and nationals from entering the country in response to new UK sanctions against Israel. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced the measures with the agreement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Britain’s Labour government imposed new sanctions targeting communities in Judea and Samaria and announced additional measures concerning arms.
TIMES OF ISRAEL Denouncing ‘ethnic cleansing’ in West Bank, UK announces ban on all dealings with settlements British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on Tuesday announced a ban on all dealings with West Bank settlements, as well as sweeping sanctions and a range of other punitive measures, during a speech in the House of Commons featuring Britain’s strongest-ever criticism of the settlement enterprise and Israel’s “unlawful occupation.” The “British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank – perpetrated by settler terrorists,” he told parliament, charging that “the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this and, worse, members of it have made statements and taken actions to support the forced displacement of Palestinians.”
JNS Jonathan Tobin: Britain’s attempt to isolate Israel illustrates its irrelevance It’s true that the statement was coordinated with the governments of France and Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, which made similar announcements. And there is no denying that this effort to isolate the Jewish state in this manner can damage the Jewish nation financially and worsen its growing diplomatic isolation. Europe remains Israel’s largest trading partner, and anything that limits its ability to conduct international commerce is harmful. Still, the panic in some quarters about this development is overstated. The truth is that the United Kingdom is a third-rate power that is a shadow of its former self in terms of economic and military power.
ALGEMEINER What if the Palestinians Don’t Want Two States, Mr. Miliband? Britain’s Foreign Secretary Edward Miliband told the House of Commons on Tuesday that securing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict “in its fullest form” is “the North Star of this government’s policy.” He then announced the means: an import ban on Israeli settlement goods, sanctions on anyone who finances or builds them, a ban on advertising them, a formal British declaration that the “occupation” itself is unlawful, an arms embargo that lasts as long as that so-called occupation does, and a coalition of European states lining up alongside him. Every one of those measures is aimed at one party [Israel]. Not a single one is aimed at the other.
ARUTZ SHEVA Trump says he will speak with Israel and allies over Judea and Samaria sanctions US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he plans to speak with Israel, Britain, France and Canada to better understand their decision to impose sanctions targeting Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Asked by a reporter whether Washington opposes the sanctions, Trump stopped short of giving a direct answer. “I’ll be speaking to Israel, I’ll be speaking to them, and I’ll find out what’s their thinking. I understand exactly what’s going on but I want to find out why, all of a sudden, has that happened.”
