{"text":[[{"start":8.14,"text":"The UK government is set to announce on Tuesday it will ban trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to people familiar with the matter."}],[{"start":16.04,"text":"The sanctions on goods from the territory will be one of British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s biggest foreign policy interventions since taking power in July. The announcement is expected to trigger a trenchant rebuke from senior figures in the US and Israel."}],[{"start":31.12,"text":"Ed Miliband, the foreign secretary, warned last week that London would “not acquiesce in the destruction of the two-state solution — we will act”. He criticised illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Israeli government for issuing tenders for about 1,200 Jewish housing units in the E1 area of the territory."}],[{"start":51,"text":"Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed expansion of settlements has long been regarded as “the crossing of a red line because it cuts through the heart of the West Bank and risks making a Palestinian state unviable”, Miliband told MPs."}],[{"start":65.6,"text":"The foreign secretary’s latest intervention came after he promised last month to set out a “comprehensive set of measures” within weeks to respond to Israeli government policies."}],[{"start":75.2,"text":"Miliband, a Jewish MP whose grandfather died in a Nazi labour camp, said Britain would impose sanctions on “those who participate in illegal settlement expansion”. The UK’s aim was to support a “just and lasting peace” for Israelis and Palestinians, he added."}],[{"start":91.48,"text":"Burnham spoke to US President Donald Trump on Monday ahead of the expected statement by Miliband to update parliament on the reset of UK relations with Israel."}],[{"start":101.52,"text":"The leaders discussed the Middle East during the wide-ranging call, Number 10 confirmed. Burnham set out the UK’s “commitment to working towards peace and security in the region” and stressed the importance of the two-state solution, according to a Downing Street readout of the conversation."}],[{"start":116.9,"text":"Senior American figures have taken a dim view of Burnham’s pivot on Israel. Last week Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, accused the British government of “Jew hate”."}],[{"start":126.6,"text":"Meanwhile Netanyahu made caustic jibes last month about the “Islamic republic of Britain”. Number 10 said the Israeli prime minister’s comments were “completely unacceptable”."}],[{"start":137.16,"text":"Burnham and Netanyahu had not spoken since the former arrived in Downing Street seven weeks ago, British officials confirmed on Monday."}],[{"start":146.32,"text":"The UK government’s plan to impose sanctions on Israel over illegal settlements has been criticised by the Conservative opposition."}],[{"start":154,"text":"Tory shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat warned last weekend that the proposals threatened Britain’s national security and could impede efforts to tackle terrorism, citing Israel’s importance as an intelligence partner."}],[{"start":167.64,"text":"Jewish community leaders in the UK have raised concerns that the move could have unintended consequences — namely, a de facto ban on a wider subset of Israeli goods, which they warned could marginalise and stigmatise British Jews."}],[{"start":181.64,"text":"However, some Labour MPs have welcomed the plan to take tougher action."}],[{"start":186.8,"text":"Burnham is aware of the importance of Israel-Palestine issues to many left-leaning voters. This summer he apologised for Labour’s initial response to the war in Gaza in an attempt to coax back voters who had fled the party over its stance under Sir Keir Starmer."}],[{"start":202,"text":"The topic is set to feature prominently in the upcoming by-election in Holborn and St Pancras after Starmer announced he was stepping down. The Green Party, which is pitched as Labour’s main challenger in the constituency, is campaigning for an end to all UK arms sales to Israel."}],[{"start":218.78,"text":"In September 2024, the UK announced the suspension of some export licences to Israel for arms used in military operations in Gaza."}],[{"start":227.52,"text":"Downing Street and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office declined to comment."}],[{"start":236.92,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1788826580_4600.mp3"}