British sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank have influenced voter preferences in Israel, according to a recent survey conducted ahead of this week’s elections. The poll, commissioned by the European Leadership Network and carried out by Merlin polling firm, indicated that 28 percent of Israeli respondents felt more inclined to support parties prioritizing Israeli security concerns—generally associated with right-wing factions—as a result of the measures introduced by the British government.

The survey, which included over 800 eligible Israeli voters, also found that 20 percent were more likely to back Israeli settlements following the imposition of sanctions. Meanwhile, 12 percent said they would be more likely to endorse Knesset members who resist foreign criticism, compared with 9 percent who indicated the opposite.

The sanctions, announced in September by then British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, included a ban on all goods produced in what the UK deems “illegal settlements in the occupied territories.” Miliband also referred to Israeli settlers as engaging in “ethnic cleansing,” a characterisation that marked a significant deterioration in UK-Israel relations—the lowest point since Israel’s founding.

Jewish Labour groups in the UK cautioned that the timing of the sanctions—just weeks before the Israeli elections—might backfire by consolidating right-wing electoral support and prompting further settlement expansion. Lahav Harkov, a senior fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security, commented that international pressure often strengthens Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political allies on the Right. She noted that even centrist Israelis who are not ardent supporters of settlements see such foreign interventions as challenges to Israel’s sovereignty, which in turn tends to push them toward parties less responsive to external pressure.

Responses gathered during the poll reflected this sentiment with voters remarking, “When foreign governments start sanctioning us, it brings us together,” and “I don’t want British politicians deciding what Israel should do.” Many expressed the view that Israel’s security is paramount regardless of international opinion.

In terms of leadership perceptions, the poll showed former U.S. President Donald Trump receiving the most favorable responses among international figures, while British politicians Miliband and Andy Burnham were often met with uncertainty or indifference.

Following the announcement of sanctions, Netanyahu’s government ordered the closure of Britain’s consulate in Jerusalem as a demonstration of defiance. However, the office was later retained under the designation of the UK Mission. Separately, Israel imposed entry bans on 11 British MPs from the hard-Left, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, further straining diplomatic ties.