Israeli opposition figures have strongly criticized the government’s response to Britain’s decision to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. They accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of diplomatic failure and argued that its response is being shaped by political interests rather than Israel’s national needs.
Opposition lawmaker Gilad Kariv described Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s retaliatory measures against Britain as “childish and populist.” He accused Saar of failing to conduct effective foreign policy and of following the nationalist agenda of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Kariv also pointed to the absence of an Israeli ambassador in London for several months as evidence of poor government management.
Saar announced several measures in response to Britain’s decision, including closing the British Consulate in East Jerusalem, removing British representatives from a Gaza support center in Israel and ending British training programs for Palestinian Authority forces. Israel also plans to restrict entry to 12 British politicians and nationals.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called Britain’s decision a serious mistake but placed the main responsibility on Netanyahu’s government. He argued that Israel’s leadership had failed to prevent the decision and was instead pushing the country toward increasing diplomatic isolation.
Lapid also warned that Britain’s sanctions could strengthen extremist groups in Israel and influence the political environment ahead of the Oct. 27 Knesset elections. He criticized the government for relying on threats rather than effective diplomacy.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the new measures specifically target illegal Israeli settlements and their expansion rather than Israel as a whole. Britain will also impose sanctions on businesses and individuals involved in construction, infrastructure, finance and real estate activities supporting settlement expansion.
The UK further plans to reject certain arms export applications connected to the occupation while maintaining the suspension of 30 existing arms export licenses. Miliband also accused extremist Israeli settlers of supporting violence against Palestinians.
The dispute comes amid increasing settlement activity in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian authorities say Netanyahu’s government has approved 104 new settlements since late 2022, while hundreds of agricultural outposts have also been established.
According to Palestinian figures, Israeli settlers carried out thousands of attacks during the first half of 2026, resulting in Palestinian deaths and the displacement of several Bedouin and pastoral communities. Dozens of new settlement outposts were also documented.
Approximately 750,000 Israeli settlers are estimated to live across illegal settlements and outposts in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israel has controlled the West Bank since 1967, while most of the international community considers Israeli settlements there illegal under international law.
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