Miliband clashes with Israel over controversial West Bank settlement
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and the Israeli government began a war of words over a controversial settlement project in the occupied West Bank. <p>Mr <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/ed-miliband-11232/1" target="_self">Miliband</a></strong> summoned Israel's charge d'affaires - the country's top diplomat in the UK - on Wednesday to set out the UK's "profound objection" to Israel publishing a tender for the construction of about 1,200 homes, as part of the E1 programme of "expansion".</p><p>He called it an "unacceptable and destructive act" and said the UK would not "stand back and accept the destruction of the two-state solution", as he demanded "an immediate reversal".</p><p><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-andy-burnham-labour-kemi-badenoch-tories-nigel-farage-reform-12593360" target="_self"><strong>Politics latest: Follow live</strong></a></p><widget id="4"></widget><p>The foreign secretary said the UK had been clear, both publicly and privately, about its opposition to the project, which he said "cut across the heart of <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/palestinians-10630/1" target="_self">Palestine</a></strong> and risks separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem".</p><p>This sparked a fiery statement from Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, who said he rejected "outright the statement of the UK foreign secretary and the patronising tone of his words".</p><p>He said the right of Jewish people to live in the area in question was recognised over a century ago through the Balfour Declaration and likened their right to live in the disputed territory to British people's right to live in <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/london-5860/1" target="_self">London</a></strong>.</p><p><strong>Read more:<br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/uk-cinemas-consider-ban-on-meta-glasses-13574686" target="_self">UK cinemas could ban AI glasses</a><br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/travelodge-boss-jo-boydell-quits-amid-guest-sex-assault-row-13574911" target="_self">Travelodge boss quits</a></strong></p><p>"The UK government's systematic policy of blaming only Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism has already contributed to a massive wave of antisemitic hatred and attacks against the British Jewish community," he said.</p><p>"The UK government's decision to damage the relationship between our countries is deeply unfortunate. But Israel will not be a passive victim of this policy.</p><p>"Israel will defend its rights, its interests and its people."</p><p>Mr Miliband added that the UK will set out a "comprehensive set of measures" in the coming weeks in response to Israeli government policies to protect the viability of the Palestinian state, which the <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/keir-starmer-6820/1" target="_self">Starmer</a></strong> government formally recognised last September.</p> <widget id="2"></widget><p>Plans to build on the E1 area have been mooted for decades and have long been internationally condemned, with settlements deemed illegal under international law.</p><p>While successive Israeli governments have held off due to international pressure, Benjamin Netanyahu's government <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/israeli-minister-announces-plans-for-new-west-bank-settlement-to-bury-idea-of-palestinian-state-13411680" target="_self">gave the green light for construction</a></strong> a year ago to "erase" the idea of a Palestinian state.</p><p>The total number of housing units approved by the Israeli government last August sits at 3,401, with a tender put out for the first 1,234 on Tuesday.</p>