The United Kingdom and Israel have engaged in a public dispute over Israel's plans to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank. The controversy centers on Israel's E1 settlement project, which involves the construction of approximately 1,200 new homes.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband condemned the project as an “unacceptable and destructive act” that threatens the viability of a two-state solution. He argued that the development would effectively separate the West Bank from East Jerusalem, undermining efforts to achieve lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Miliband stated that the UK would not "stand back and accept the destruction of the two-state solution” and has repeatedly urged the Israeli government to halt the E1 plans, retract the tender process, and cease all settlement expansion activities. As part of its diplomatic response, the British government summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires in London to formally express its “profound objection” to the project.
Miliband emphasized the UK’s commitment to supporting a two-state framework as essential for ensuring security and peace for both populations. He asserted that settlement construction violates international law and damages prospects for a viable Palestinian state. The UK also plans to introduce a series of measures aimed at countering Israeli settlement policies in the coming weeks, including targeted sanctions against individuals involved in the expansion.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected the UK’s criticism, describing it as “entirely one-sided” and dismissing Miliband’s remarks as “patronising.” On social media, Sa’ar stated that the Jewish people have a historically documented connection and right to the land in question. He also clarified that no new decisions had been made regarding development in E1, noting that the tender process began months ago with recent publication of related documents.
Sa’ar further accused the UK of focusing exclusively on Israeli actions while overlooking Palestinian extremism, attributing this perceived imbalance to rising antisemitic incidents within the British Jewish community. He characterized the UK government’s stance as “deeply unfortunate” and said it risked damaging bilateral relations between the two countries.
The dispute reflects broader tensions surrounding settlement construction, which many international actors view as an obstacle to peace negotiations. Both the UK and Israel remain at odds over the interpretation of international law and the implications of settlement activities for the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.