British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing mounting pressure from within his own Labour Party to impose comprehensive sanctions on Israel, according to a report in The Times of London. At least 140 Labour members of parliament are calling for punitive measures in response to Israeli plans to construct 1,200 housing units in the E1 area of the West Bank.
The lawmakers are advocating for a sanctions package that would go beyond measures adopted by any other European nation, The Times reported. Their proposal includes trade restrictions that would extend well beyond goods produced in the West Bank, potentially affecting broader commercial ties with Israel.
However, senior members of parliament have cautioned Burnham that implementing such a trade ban could trigger severe retaliatory measures from the White House and potentially ignite a trade war between Britain and the United States. The concerns stem from harsh responses the American administration has already directed at other European countries that have taken similar steps.
Last month, the US administration criticized legislation advancing in Ireland, calling the move "unhelpful" and warning of "unintended consequences" for hundreds of businesses. More dramatically, President Donald Trump threatened to impose a full trade embargo on Spain after it banned imports from the West Bank last year—part of a broader confrontation that also involved Madrid's refusal to allow the US to use its military bases for operations against Iran.
