UK's Miliband condemns Israeli tenders for E1 settlement, Sa'ar rejects 'patronising' criticism

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband condemned Israel's launch of tenders for E1 settlement projects, saying in a statement that "Britain will not stand back and accept the destruction of the two-state solution." Miliband described the impact of settler violence and terrorism as "catastrophic" for Palestinian communities, and said the British government would set out a comprehensive set of measures in the coming weeks to respond to Israeli government policies. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar rejected the statement outright, calling its tone "patronising." He said the Jewish people have the right to live throughout the Land of Israel, "just as the British have the right to live in London and throughout the United Kingdom," and cited the Balfour Declaration as formal recognition of the Jewish people's historic right to reestablish their national home in the region, including in the area in question. Sa'ar noted that Britain "still controls colonial territories thousands of miles from its shores," calling it "absurd" for the UK to lecture Israel about where Jewish people may live in their historic homeland. He said there had been no new decisions regarding development in E1, noting the decision was made in 2025 and that the tender process has been underway for several months, with certain documents published only in recent days. Suggested articles BBC rules 'moneybags Rothschild' comment not antisemitic | i24NEWS Nearly half of British people favor reducing or ending immigration from Israel, survey finds | i24NEWS UK launches investigation into donors funding West Bank Yeshivas | i24NEWS Sa'ar accused the UK of a one-sided approach that "condemns Israel while turning a blind eye to Palestinian terrorism, incitement and the Palestinian Authority's continued financial support for terror," referring to the PA's so-called "pay for slay" policy. He said the UK's pattern of blaming only Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism has contributed to a rise in antisemitic attacks against the British Jewish community, and warned that continuing on that path "will only make the situation worse." Sa'ar called the UK's decision to damage relations between the two countries "deeply unfortunate," but said Israel "will not be a passive victim of this policy" and would defend its rights, interests and people. First Sa'ar-Miliband call: UK FM presses Israel on Gaza aid, West Bank violence