breaking

Sanctions announced by the British government on Tuesday targeting West Bank settlements have upended the UK’s decades-long balancing act and provoked furious condemnation from the Israeli government that has all but severed relations between the two.

Coming a year on from recognizing Palestinian statehood, the Labour-led UK government confirmed it was tightening restrictions on arms exports to Israel and was placing bans on the import of all goods from settlements and on some services, including construction, financing, infrastructure, real estate, and settlement advertising.

Addressing Parliament, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who is of Jewish heritage and lost multiple members of his family during the Holocaust, labeled the settlers “terrorists” who had received tacit support for their practices by an Israeli government.

“There is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank perpetrated by settler terrorists, and all too often, the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this, and worse, members of it have made statements and taken actions to support the forced displacement of Palestinians,” Miliband added.

The move marks part of a broader international pushback on settlement activity, with Canada and France also announcing on Tuesday they would join Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK in enacting bans.

Against a backdrop of looming Israeli elections, questions are now being asked: Does the news out of London mark a long-term structural shift in its relationship with Israel, or is it part of a coordinated effort to put pressure on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of elections in late October?

In Israel, early political response was definitive, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir leaning into a global call by right-wing governments as he urged the country to “publicly recognize that the Malvinas Islands (Falklands) are Argentine territory under occupation.”

He added: “The British are not content with merely occupying the territory; they also carry out oil drilling there and steal money from the Argentine people.”

Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, meanwhile, claimed “we will not be a doormat trampled by an antisemitic government, in a country conquered by radical Islam, trying to save itself from economic and social decline.”

Addressing the media shortly after Miliband’s announcement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated plainly that the UK was engaging in election interference as he warned that the Israeli population “emphatically” rejected Palestinian statehood.

Announcing countermeasures, Saar said Israel would close the British Consulate in Jerusalem; remove British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat in southern Israel; terminate the UK’s role in training Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank; and deny 12 elected officials entry to Israel.

These include former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, Fahad Ansari, director of Riverway to the Sea, Naz Shah, Diane Abbott MP, Hannah Spencer, Carla Denyer, Sian Berry, Ellie Chowns, John McDonnell, Richard Burgon, and Adrian Ramsay.

Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, said that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s history of offensive comments would likely mean these remarks were not “seen as serious” in and of themselves, but warned that they could not be wholly ignored.

“They (Gvir and Smotrich) are viewed with the sort of contempt that is necessary. It’s one of the many reasons that they are sanctioned,” Doyle told Arab News.

“But clearly, the concern will remain that somehow whatever they say could become official Israeli government policy, not least in an election cycle.”

Burcu Ozcelik, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told Arab News the real threat from Israel surrounded the potential that it could downgrade aspects of intelligence-sharing and defense cooperation with the UK.

Doing so, Ozcelik said, would prove “significant” and was “exactly why” she expected to see the UK go to great pains in the days and weeks ahead to “telegraph that the settlement trade ban is legally and diplomatically defensible because it is consistent with its recognition policy, but that the UK seeks to preserve substantial security and economic ties with Israel.”

However, according to observers who spoke to Arab News, the UK appears to have reached a point at which it is willing to take that gamble, with Doyle noting that after meeting with Miliband on Monday, he was convinced the ban was indicative of a broader structural shift.

“I’m quite convinced that Ed Miliband is genuine when he says that this will be a reset in relations with Israel,” said Doyle.

“It’s a phrase he’s used in public and repeated. So I think that imposing a ban on trade with settlements is certainly part of that. But I think that there needs to be other measures, and I expect that there will be.”

Concurring, Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, described the decision as “long overdue,” writing on X that the sanctions marked a “turning point in UK-Palestine relations,” with Britain moving “from condemnation to consequences, from words to action.”

Stressing that the development marked neither a “wholesale rupture with Israel” nor a “blanket trade ban” with Israel, Ozcelik said the Labour government was adding consistency to last September’s recognition of Palestine and the country’s “continued commitment to a two-state solution.”

“It is distinguishing between Israel’s legitimate security concerns, which the UK fully recognizes, and the settlement expansion in the West Bank, which the UK considers illegal under international law,” Ozcelik said.

“The UK government’s calculation is that if it recognizes a Palestinian state while taking no action against settlements that undermine the territorial viability of a future state, there is an obvious credibility gap. These measures need to be read as an attempt to give practical meaning to the UK’s support for a two-state solution.”

Public support for a ban has been steadily climbing since a recommendation for one last July from the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, with an August YouGov poll pointing to 50 percent support, with just 16 percent opposed, while Caabu research noted 246 MPs were in favor.

Trustee of the Britain Palestine Project, which seeks equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians, and former UK Consul-General to Jerusalem Sir Vincent Fean said that with “no peace process” and a “genocide in Gaza and apartheid, state-controlled settler violence and ethnic cleansing in East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank,” action was necessary.

“This is a necessary reset of UK government policy, wholly consistent with UK recognition of the State of Palestine on Sept. 21, 2025, and respect for international law, which the Labour government came into office committed to uphold,” Fean told Arab News.

“It exerts UK leverage over Israeli illegal settlements for the first time. The UK has joined the international virtual consensus in condemning settlements as illegal, undermining prospects for peace. But nothing was done to stop them.

“With this policy step change, the UK is giving a lead to like-minded partners. The UK is not powerless in this regard.”

Noting that the UK move was “inevitable” amid a “deterioration of the security situation in the West Bank,” which followed the Israeli government overturning a 20-year settlement ban in Jenin, Yossi Mekelberg said he wanted to see words matched with action.

“Taking measures against the trade with the settlements is one thing, but we also need to see a drive toward a two-state solution,” Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow on the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, told Arab News.

“Do you support the two-state solution on both sides? Do you support the process? If so, you need to fill it with content, with substance.”

Asked to provide a metric for measuring the ban’s success, Ozcelik said this would ultimately be measured in whether it deters implementation of the contentious E1 plan, which critics say will sever Palestinian territory in such a way that a contiguous state is no longer possible.

DIANA Vickers has been branded “unreal” by adoring fans as she stripped to a bright red bikini.

The X Factor alum, who recently revealed to The Sun the impact of celibacy on her life, was seen soaking up the sunshine on a beach holiday to Portugal.

She flashed a smile as she crouched down on the sands in her two-piece, with her blonde locks blowing in the sea breeze.

Diana, 35, went make-up free for the sizzling snaps, which captured her toned figure and glowing holiday tan.

She added a simple red Emoji love heart for her caption, though fans were quick to comment.

One wrote: “Hahahaa yes babe,” as a second simply put: “Unreal”.

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A fan then added: “You’re so fit,” as another gushed: “Looking amazing and so gorgeous”.

One follower then put: “Always flawless”.

Recently, The Sun exclusively reported how she celebrated her 12 months of celibacy by having sex with a colleague.

Opening up about her sex journey, Diana – who has appeared in BBC sitcoms Josh and Not Going Out – says she swore off sex to concentrate on her career and social life.

“I went celibate for a year just to see what would happen and I really thrived,” she says.

“I had such a great year with work and got every job I went up for.

“And then it got to the year mark, which I wanted to reach and I celebrated it by sleeping with someone I worked with.

“I was like (mimes pointing): ‘You! You have won the competition.’ And it was great.

“It was a really lovely experience with a really lovely guy, who I’ve stayed friends with since”.

UCLA players are working to live up to the immense hype building around new head coach Bob Chesney.

From the Curt Cignetti similarities, to the competition-centric practice plans to the family-oriented coaching staff, all signs point to a bounce-back year for UCLA after going 3-9 last season.

But how much better will the Bruins be?

Let’s take a closer look at the changes Chesney and has staff have made to UCLA’s offensive personnel.

For the second straight year, UCLA’s attack will run through senior quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The former five-star prospect experienced a tumultuous exit from Tennessee in the spring of 2025 and the challenges followed him to Westwood, where Iamaleava ranked outside the top 10 in the Big Ten in passing yards and passing touchdowns en route to the program‘s worst record since 2018.

But with a full year at UCLA under his belt, and a full offseason working with Chesney and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy, Iamaleava should be poised for his best year yet — particularly with the weapons Chesney added.

The running backs are the strongest offensive group, with the Bruins boasting three potential starters in senior Jaivian Thomas and fifth-year pair Anthony Woods and Wayne Knight. While Knight was injured for the majority of the spring, Chesney said he is now healthy.

UCLA — which is historically known for its premier tailbacks such as Jackie Robinson, DeShaun Foster, Maurice Jones-Drew and Zach Charbonnet — finished third worst in the nation in rushing yards in 2024 and No. 13 in the Big Ten in 2025.

And while Iamaleava finished as the team’s leading rusher last season, that will not be the case with the three-headed attack the Bruins boast this season. The trio have all cycled through the first team throughout preseason camp, and given Chesney’s emphasis at depth and the likelihood of injury at that position, it looks as though all three will be dividing top running back duties in 2026 — at least to start.

“That room, I’m really looking forward to just seeing how they continue to jell together and grow, and see who starts to emerge a little more,” Chesney said of the running backs. “But at that position, it’s very rare to make it through a whole season as a running back, so we’re going to need them all.”

On the boundaries, Chesney also brought in reinforcements to fortify a wideout room that finished 2025 ranked No. 16 and No. 14 in the conference in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, respectively.

James Madison transfer Landon Ellis and South Carolina transfer Brian Rowe Jr. have consistently lined up with the Bruins’ starting outside receivers, with the latter praised by Chesney and teammates at Big Ten media days as a player who has “popped off the screen.”

Florida transfer Aidan Mizell also took reps with the starters in the first three days of camp, and could give the Bruins a speedy, downfield, deep-shot receiver who could unlock Iamaleava’s big arm that was largely invisible in 2025.

San José State transfer Leland Smith gives Iamaleava a big-bodied receiver that can make contested catches on the boundaries or hang on to balls over the middle of the field.

Senior wideout Mikey Matthews emerged as the starting slot option over Michigan transfer Semaj Morgan during the first three days of camp, but expect the battle for this spot to continue. Matthews and Morgan are proven contributors from the inside while also offering services in the return game as well.

Just two tight ends — Molokai Matavao and Greg Dulcic — have had more than 300 receiving yards since 2020. And that trend could continue into 2026. The Bruins’ projected starter, JMU transfer Josh Phifer, is more of a blocking body than a receiving threat, and when they went to 12 personnel at preseason camp, Kennedy turned to Kansas State transfer Brayden Loftin and sophomore Noah Fox-Flores — both of whom lack production in the passing game.

UCLA coaches had to address a weak offensive line immediately after taking over the program. Iamaleava took 27 sacks last season, which ranked fourth in the Big Ten and No. 24 in the nation. With Iamaleava’s love of scrambling and reluctance to slide, a fortified front five is integral to offensive success.

After three days of camp, the center and tackles look to be solidified with 2025 second-team All-Sun Belt selection Riley Robell in the middle, South Alabama transfer Jordan Davis at left tackle and Boise State transfer at Hall Schmidt at right tackle.

The main offensive position battle, alongside slot receiver, are the two guard spots, with the Bruins’ lone returning starter from last year’s offensive line, junior Eugene Brooks, returner Julian Armella and 2025 third-team All-Sun Belt selection Carter Sweazie all competing for two spots. All three cycled through with the other starters during the first three days of camp.

While it seems like the majority of the starting offense is settled, question marks surround a team that features such little continuity and so many new faces.

But on paper, the Bruins’ offense seems poised for a breakout year.

If the offensive line holds up, at least better than the year before, then the ground game should be able to win the time-of-possession battle, wear down opponents and open up the passing game.

Preseason MVP pick (non-QB): Wayne Knight. He’s healthy, returning from an Associated Press second-team All-American season, and has three capable runners in Thomas, Woods and Iamaleava to balance the attack.

Breakout pick (non-Brian Rowe): Everybody is picking Brian Rowe Jr. to be the Bruins’ biggest breakout on either side of the ball. But Jaivian Thomas is another tailback to watch. The California transfer ran for 626 yards and seven touchdowns in just 100 touches at California in 2024, but ran for only 294 in 81 carries last season. He looks better than ever during preseason camp and should flourish with a revamped offensive line and additional capable runners in the room.

Biggest question mark: Tight end/offensive line. For the former, the group features a hodgepodge of transfers and returners, all of them with little proven production. For the latter, there’s a lot of talent and depth, but little continuity. Can the transfers make the jump to the Big Ten and what does the chemistry look like for a line where a maximum of two have lined up together before?

Bold prediction: UCLA finishes the season ranking top three in rushing yards and scores in the Big Ten.

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Have something Bruin?

Do you have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future UCLA newsletter? Email newsletters editor Houston Mitchell at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.