How the fall of Starmer will reshape British policy on Israel

How the fall of Starmer will reshape British policy on Israel Submitted by Imran Mulla on Thu, 05/14/2026 - 17:21 Whoever becomes prime minister can be expected to take a more strident position on the Middle East Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham speaks to the press after the first roundtable meeting with regional English mayors outside 10 Downing Street in London on 9 July, 2024. (AFP) Off Israel 's genocide in Gaza and campaign of ethnic cleansing in the occupied West Bank have not yet become an issue in the battle to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as British prime minister. Reporters have focused on the manoeuvrings of the candidates amid criticisms of Starmer’s style of government.  That is certain to change once the contest gets underway. One of the big issues will be Starmer’s handling of the Gaza genocide.  Here, we argue that whichever candidate succeeds Starmer, they will need to take a much more strident position on Israel.  This will likely mean sanctions on illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, and a ban on settlement goods.  There could even be moves towards a full-scale sanction of Israel itself. “Labour’s refusal to properly oppose Israel’s genocide in Gaza is one of the key issues that has appalled huge numbers of former Labour voters and driven them away from the party,” Labour MP Richard Burgon told Middle East Eye. 'Labour’s refusal to properly oppose Israel’s genocide in Gaza is one of the key issues that has appalled huge numbers of former Labour voters' - Labour MP Richard Burgon This logic implies that the topic of Israel and Gaza will be brought to the forefront in the leadership contest. Kim Johnson, a...

Original source: Middle East Eye