Britain faces US reprisals over Burnham's 'Jew-hating' West Bank settlements boycott - as Israel threatens to back Argentina's Falklands grab

Britain is facing reprisals from the US and Israel as Andy Burnham prepares to impose sanctions on West Bank settlements.A package of measures banning imports from the disputed areas is set to be announced later, despite a mounting backlash.The PM informed Donald Trump of his plans in a call last night, with the Government bracing for the president to respond publicly. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will face questions in the Commons. But the move is already causing a storm, with the US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee branding it 'Jew hate'.In another escalation overnight, Florida congressman Randy Fine warned that the state has a law that would ban UK imports in retaliation.An Israeli minister has insisted it could support Argentina's campaign to seize control of the Falklands, while terror experts have warned of the risk from disrupting intelligence from a long-standing ally. There is also disquiet in Labour ranks, with one MP raising alarm about 'a real risk of increased chances of attacks on the British Jewish community'. Britain is facing reprisals from the US and Israel as Andy Burnham prepares to impose sanctions on West Bank settlements Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will face questions in the Commons on the policy later Concern about Israeli settlements has been mounting for years. It has intensified following Israel's recent decision to open tenders for 1,200 homes east of Jerusalem, which would divide the West BankTouring broadcast studios for the Government this morning, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden insisted Israel remains a key ally of the UK.He argued the measures would be targeted and not amount to a de facto ban on trade with the state.Mr Burnham has not spoken to Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu since becoming PM in July.Labour has been under intense pressure from activists to toughen its position on Israel after losing votes to the Greens and pro-Gaza independents.Concern about settlements has been mounting for years. It has intensified following Israel's recent decision to open tenders for 1,200 homes east of Jerusalem, which would divide the West Bank.Mr Miliband - who is Jewish - last week said the plan was 'crossing a red line' and 'illegal under international law'.He said the proposal 'cuts through the heart of the West Bank and risks making a Palestinian state unviable'.Mr Miliband said Labour wanted a 'comprehensive reset' of relations with Israel.Mr Burnham has said the Israeli proposals could 'imperil or end' the dream of a two-state solution, which successive British governments have supported for years. In a call with Mr Trump last night he reiterated his commitment to a two-state solution.But Itamar Ben-Gvir, the hardline Minister of National Security of Israel, wrote on X: 'It's time for the State of Israel to publicly recognize that the Malvinas Islands are Argentine territory under occupation, which the British violently steal from the Argentine people.'The British are not content with merely occupying the territory; they also carry out oil drilling there and steal the money from the Argentine people.'I call upon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognize Argentina's sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and to impose sanctions on Great Britain as long as the occupation continues.'Although Mr Trump has yet to comment, Republican Mr Fine posted on social media: 'As the British government considers forcing British companies to boycott portions of Israel, it should be aware that a Florida law that I passed as a member of the Legislature would ban any British company forced to comply from doing business with any state or local government in Florida. 'It would also end any British business participating in that boycott from doing any business in Florida if it needed any official interaction with state or local government to operate (permits, tax collection). 'Florida is one of Britain's largest trading partners. They should understand that their vanity project in support of Muslim terror could cost them billions of dollars. 'And for those who doubt the power of this policy, it was this same law that broke Airbnb's misguided effort to boycott portions of Israel in 2019. The PM informed Donald Trump of his plans in a call last night, with the Government bracing for the president to respond publicly'They realized that this law would have bankrupted their company. Florida has made it clear. Any company — or nation — that boycotts Israel is boycotted by Florida.' Mr Huckabee told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there would be 'implications' for Britain.'For example, 25 per cent of pharmaceuticals that are used in the UK are made in Israel. Are they willing to give those up? It looks like they are.'Are they willing also to do great damage to any Brits who are doing business in a number of states in the US.'I don't know what all of the national sanctions or repercussions or retaliations will be from the US, hasn't been announced yet.'But I do know that there are a number of states. Let me mention one, one of the largest US states, Florida, that has a law that if this action is taken, then Brits will not be able to do business with any company or business in Florida.'Mr McFadden dismissed jibes about the Government engaging in 'Jew hate' and insisted Israel remained a key ally.'At the heart of the statement is the idea that the UK, along with many other countries, do not want to see the possibility of a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine being erased by changes to the facts on the ground, and the reason that danger has become more urgent is because of expanded settlement activity in recent weeks and months,' he told Times Radio.Plans in the so-called E1 area could see the 'effective cutting off of the north of the West Bank from the south of the West Bank', he said.Asked why Mr Burnham had not spoken to Israel's PM about the move, he said: 'I'm sure he will speak to the prime minister of Israel.'But Israel is an important security ally, and in the context of what we're saying today, I think it's also important to distinguish between action which is announced in response to policies of this Israeli government at this time, and the people of Israel and the links between Israel and the UK, which are important and valuable and will continue to be so.'Shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat warned at the weekend that the move to impose sanctions could imperil security cooperation credited with saving British lives.He urged ministers to 'put our own national interests and our own national security first', adding: 'That means that where we have friends and allies who provide us with intelligence in order to keep us safe we should work with them.'Asked how it would be possible to tell whether goods come from settlements in the West Bank or the rest of Israel and to address concerns this could amount to an overall boycott by the back door, he told Sky News: 'The Foreign Secretary will set out details of how this will operate when he stands up in Parliament this afternoon.'But I think it's also important to say that Israel is an important trading partner for the UK. This isn't intended to be a boycott of all Israeli goods.'He added: 'It's measures specifically targeted at the expansion of these settlements, which are illegal under international law, in the West Bank.'