The Daily Telegraph reports British government sources say UK-Israel diplomatic
relations have been effectively "frozen" for about two years, with
minister-level contacts largely halted. Sources trace the deterioration to
former prime minister Starmer's criticism of IDF operations in Gaza, sanctions
on an Israeli minister over West Bank issues, and the UK's formal recognition of
a Palestinian state last year. Officials warn relations could worsen under new
Prime Minister Burnham: he has criticized his predecessor for not calling
earlier for a Gaza ceasefire and signaled support for additional sanctions on
West Bank settlements. Burnham this week named Wes Streeting defense secretary
and Miliband foreign secretary; Streeting has privately accused Israel of
"committing war crimes before our eyes" and of using "the language of ethnic
cleansing," while Miliband has long backed the Palestinian cause and criticized
Israeli policy. Senior UK ministers have not made an official visit to Israel in
nearly two years; a July 2024 visit by then-foreign minister Rami met Netanyahu
and pressed for an immediate ceasefire and hosting releases. Cooper, who became
foreign minister last September, never visited Israel and announced UK
recognition of a Palestinian state at the UNGA. In June last year the UK froze
assets and imposed travel bans on finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and national
security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. An Israeli government source told reporters
Israel fully expects further UK sanctions and that relations are likely to
deteriorate further before improving.
