Britain is preparing to announce broad economic restrictions targeting Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, potentially including a ban on trade in goods produced in the communities and sanctions against companies involved in construction, The New York Times reported on Monday.
According to the report, which cited seven officials briefed on the planned measures, the announcement could come as soon as Tuesday. Three of the officials said sanctions against companies assisting construction in Jewish communities are also under consideration.
The measures would represent a significant expansion of previous British sanctions connected to Judea and Samaria, which have focused primarily on individuals.
The New York Times noted that goods produced in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria represent only a small portion of the approximately $8 billion in annual trade between Israel and Britain, meaning that the direct economic effect of a product ban could be limited.
The planned measures follow Britain’s condemnation of Israel’s construction plans in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim. Israel recently issued a tender for seven residential compounds in E1 totaling 1,234 housing units, part of approximately 3,400 units approved for the area last year.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has demanded that Israel withdraw the tender, describing the project as “an unacceptable and destructive act” and claiming that construction in E1 would threaten the viability of a future Palestinian state.
Miliband has also said that Britain is examining its broader economic relationship with areas under Israeli control in Judea and Samaria and does not want British companies financing, constructing or advertising new communities.
The expected move has prompted warnings from Israel, British Jewish leaders, and even members of Britain’s Labour Party over its possible consequences.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar warned last week that Israel would retaliate against British measures.
“If Britain acts against Israel, Israel will act against Britain,” Sa’ar said in an interview with Ynet.
Sa’ar accused the British government of “systematically acting against Israel” and said Israel was already preparing for the possibility of new sanctions.
“If they make a mistake, there will be a response,” he said.
Sa’ar has also rejected Britain’s criticism of construction in E1, noting that the decision to develop the area was made in 2025 and that the tender process had been underway for months.
Britain’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, has separately urged Miliband to reconsider the planned restrictions, warning that they could damage relations between Israel and Britain, harm British Jews, and expand beyond their stated scope.
Rabbi Mirvis warned that difficulties in defining and enforcing restrictions specifically targeting Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria could cause them to “spiral into a de facto boycott of trade with Israel more broadly.”
He also cautioned that the measures could have consequences for British Jews because of their religious, family, charitable, and educational connections with Israel.
“Over recent years, we have seen repeatedly that when rhetoric towards Israel escalates, hostility towards Jews is never far behind,” Rabbi Mirvis said.
Warnings have also emerged within Britain’s governing Labour Party regarding the possible reaction from US President Donald Trump’s administration.
The British Times reported that Labour MPs have cautioned that Washington could respond to British sanctions with tariffs, potentially harming economic and diplomatic relations between Britain and the United States.
Those concerns have been fueled by previous US reactions to European measures targeting Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Washington criticized Irish legislation targeting such trade and warned of possible consequences for American companies and jobs, while Trump has previously threatened trade measures against Spain after Madrid took steps to prohibit imports from Israeli communities.
A former Labour minister also warned of a significant risk of retaliatory action from both the Trump administration and Israel and urged the British government to consider the potential consequences before proceeding.
According to The New York Times, some British opposition lawmakers have additionally warned that the proposed sanctions could affect Britain’s national security, citing intelligence cooperation with Israel that has helped prevent terrorist attacks on British soil.
Despite the warnings, the British government has continued preparing the measures. Miliband has said London intends to respond to Israeli construction policy with a comprehensive package that would include sanctions against those involved in expanding Jewish communities.
