Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has rejected Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband’s demand for Israel to halt its E1 settlement project, accusing Britain of adopting an “entirely one-sided” position.
The exchange followed Israel’s publication of construction tenders for 1,234 homes in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, forming part of a wider plan for approximately 3,400 housing units.
Miliband demands immediate reversal
In a statement published on Wednesday evening, Miliband described the tender as an “unacceptable and destructive act”.
He argued that development in E1 would cut across Palestinian territory and risk separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem, damaging the viability of a future Palestinian state.
Miliband said the UK remained committed to a two-state solution as the only route to lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians. He described Israeli settlements as a breach of international law and said he had told Sa’ar that Israel must halt the E1 plans, withdraw the tender and stop further settlement expansion.
Israel disputes the international position that its West Bank settlements are illegal and maintains historical and legal claims to the territory.
Israeli diplomat summoned
The Foreign Secretary also summoned Israel’s chargé d’affaires to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to receive Britain’s formal objection.
Miliband said settler violence and attempts to create permanent territorial divisions were threatening peace and the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
He added that the Government intended to develop measures responding to Israeli settlement policy, including possible targeted sanctions against people involved in settlement expansion. No detailed package had been announced at that stage.
Sa’ar rejects criticism
Sa’ar responded on Thursday morning by rejecting Miliband’s statement and what he called its “patronising tone”.
He said Jewish people had a right to live throughout the Land of Israel and compared that claim with the right of British people to live throughout the United Kingdom. He also invoked the Balfour Declaration and criticised Britain for, in his words, lecturing Israel while retaining overseas territories.
Sa’ar said no new decision on E1 had been taken, arguing that approval dated from 2025 and that the tender process had already been under way for several months. The latest development was the publication and opening of tender documents for part of the approved project.
He accused the Foreign Secretary of condemning Israel while overlooking Palestinian terrorism, incitement and payments by the Palestinian Authority to people convicted of attacks against Israelis or their families.
Sa’ar further claimed that British policy towards Israel had contributed to antisemitic hostility affecting Jewish people in Britain. That was the Israeli minister’s allegation, and his post did not provide evidence establishing a direct causal link.
Relations under growing strain
The Israeli Foreign Minister described the deterioration in relations as deeply unfortunate but said Israel would defend its interests and its people.
The dispute demonstrates the widening disagreement between London and Jerusalem over settlement construction and the future of the West Bank. Britain argues that E1 would make a geographically viable Palestinian state significantly harder to achieve, while Israel’s government rejects external pressure over where Jewish communities may be built.
Sources
- Ed Miliband’s statement on X
- UK Government: Foreign Secretary’s statement on the E1 tender
- Gideon Sa’ar’s response on X
- Government of Israel: Sa’ar rejects the UK statement
- Times of Israel: tender opened for 1,234 E1 homes
