UK threatens sanctions over E1 West Bank settlement tender

LONDON — British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has warned companies and individuals in the UK not to bid in the tender for the E1 settlement project in the West Bank, according to Indonesian outlet Republika, which cited Anadolu Agency.

Republika reported that Miliband made the remarks in a statement dated 20 October 2026. All details below come from that report, and Zenga News has not independently verified them.

What Miliband said

"We urge companies and individuals not to proceed with bids for the E1 construction tender," Miliband said, in Republika's account of the statement.

According to Republika, he warned that taking part could carry legal and reputational consequences. These include the risk of involvement in serious breaches of international law. He also said the British government could impose sanctions on firms or individuals linked to the project.

"I want to be clear to those considering getting involved in the tender process: we have established new powers that allow us to sanction individuals and companies involved in the construction of illegal settlements, such as E1," Miliband said, as quoted in Republika's Indonesian-language report and rendered here in English.

Republika quoted him as saying the government "will not accept the continued displacement of Palestinians and the continued illegal occupation." The outlet said this was the reason for the sanctions approach.

Import ban plans

Republika reported that Miliband said the government is committed to introducing legislation to ban imports of goods from Israeli settlements. It said parties that finance or facilitate such imports would also face sanctions or enforcement action.

"The British people do not want to support the construction of illegal settlements," Miliband said, according to the report.

Settler violence

Republika said Miliband also pointed to rising violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The outlet reported that settlers had recently attacked officials from several European countries, as well as a journalist from the United States. Miliband said the UK condemns the attacks, according to Republika.

The report included a photo caption describing Israeli soldiers surrounding a Palestinian farmer who had been shot by the Israeli military. It said this followed settler attacks on families harvesting olives in Abu Falah in the West Bank on 16 October 2026. Republika attributed the image to EPA. The report gave no further detail on the incident.

Background

Republika said the E1 project is under international scrutiny. It reported that the plan was approved last year. It said that, if built, E1 would separate the West Bank from East Jerusalem. The outlet said critics argue this would undermine the prospect of a Palestinian state.

The report said the United Nations has repeatedly stated that Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law. It said the UN considers them harmful to the prospects of a two-state solution.

Republika also reported that Israel has built settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since occupying them in the 1967 war. It said more than 700,000 Israeli settlers are estimated to live in settlements in the West Bank.

The report did not say when the E1 tender closes. It did not say which companies, if any, are considering bids. It also did not give details on how the new UK sanctions powers would work or when the import legislation would be introduced.