Prominent British rabbis have expressed a wide range of opinions on Ed Miliband’s recent sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank. While some have criticized the move, others have supported it, highlighting the diversity of views within the British Jewish community. The UK’s chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, called the sanctions a "dark day for British Jews," warning that they might empower those who spread hatred against Jews. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and The Jewish Leadership Council also voiced their opposition, emphasizing concerns about the potential consequences of such measures. However, some senior rabbis, particularly from the progressive wing of the community, have backed the sanctions. Jonathan Wittenberg, a senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism, visited the Palestinian village of Umm al Khair while Miliband announced the policy and witnessed the effects of settler violence firsthand. He described the situation in the West Bank as a "Chillul HaShem," or a severe violation of God’s name, and urged the community to speak out against the violence, which he said harms both Palestinians and Israelis. Rabbi Alexandra Wright from The Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London emphasized the need to address the occupation and rising violence, stating the sanctions reflect the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution. Other rabbis, such as Jeremy Gordon of New London Synagogue and Lev Taylor of Kingston Liberal Synagogue, supported Miliband’s decision, arguing that the sanctions signal the government is moving in the right direction. They noted that some Israeli lawmakers have also supported similar measures. However, there is some unease within the Orthodox community about the perception that British Jews are uniformly opposed to the sanctions. Ed Miliband, the UK’s foreign secretary, announced the sanctions in coordination with France, Canada, and nine other countries, targeting trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The UK government stated that the occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful and that the measures aim to curb the expansion of settlements, which it believes threaten the possibility of a Palestinian state. Jonathan Boyd, from the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, noted that while there is no clear data on whether British Jews support the sanctions, views on Israeli policy and the conflict are varied, influenced by factors like age, denomination, and political outlook. Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy, co-leaders of Progressive Judaism, described the sanctions as a "clumsy tool" that could have unintended consequences. They stressed that measures against settlements are not the same as targeting Jews and urged critics of the sanctions to offer more than just condemnation of violence, emphasizing that inaction is not neutral. All three rabbis opposed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement and welcomed Miliband’s stance against it. The sanctions announcement led to a strong backlash from Israel, which ordered the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem and banned 12 British MPs and activists from entering the country. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, warned of possible retaliatory actions over trade, though U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the U.S. would not follow the UK’s lead but did not want to see the West Bank destabilized. Miliband expressed regret over Israel’s response but stood by the decision, calling it the right course of action. He acknowledged the closure of the British consulate would be damaging but said the government had considered the consequences beforehand.