Political signals have consequences.
London has already imposed sanctions on Israeli ministers, restricted arms exports, suspended trade negotiations, and recognized a Palestinian state. The settlement ban adds another layer to a relationship that Britain simultaneously insists remains strategically important.
That contradiction was unusually visible on Tuesday. British ministers stressed that Israel remains an important security partner and that intelligence and security cooperation should continue. Miliband himself emphasized Britain’s continuing relationship with Israel even as he announced the new policy.
Yet only a day earlier, UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese called on Britain to go considerably further and progressively suspend intelligence cooperation with Israel.
Britain
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