The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), which represents many of the UK’s Jewish organisations, has accused the government of putting an “increased target on British Jews" by banning imports of goods from Israeli settlements.
In a statement, the council described the decision as “deeply irresponsible" and accused the government of “yielding to pressure from the most extreme elements of British society."
“The government’s increasingly punitive and unbalanced approach towards Israel does nothing to advance peace, risks harming Jewish life in Britain, and damages the UK’s relationship with a vital ally," the JLC said.
The JLC was among the Jewish organisations invited to Downing Street last week to meet with Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner to discuss rising antisemitism in the UK ahead of the upcoming Jewish High Holy Days.
Human Rights Watch calls the UK’s ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements a “long-awaited and positive change" in British policy.
ActionAid UK welcomes the move as “long overdue," calling it a first step toward ending UK complicity in Israel’s “unlawful occupation." It warns that settler violence has reached record levels and urges further action against the Israeli government.
Amnesty International UK describes the measures as “hugely welcome," saying they could be the “sea change" needed to hold Israel accountable for violations of international law.