BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 9. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has rejected criticism from Britain’s chief rabbi over government sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Miliband, who has described himself as a “proud Jew”, said he disagreed with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis’s assessment of the measures while stressing that he has “great respect” for him.
Mirvis had criticised the government’s decision to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements, calling it a “dark day for British Jews” and warning that the move could encourage those who use hatred against Jews.
The chief rabbi argued that the sanctions could endanger Jewish communities and increase antisemitism.
Miliband rejected that argument, saying it is possible to oppose actions by the Israeli government against Palestinians while simultaneously standing firmly against antisemitism.
The dispute comes amid growing tensions between the UK government and Israel over Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank and Britain’s response to developments in the Palestinian territories.
