Britain decided to punish Israel and fell into an American trap

The UK imposed trade restrictions on Israeli settlements, creating a threat to British businesses due to anti-boycott laws in several US states. An American pro-Israel organization launched a hotline to collect data on British companies complying with the new requirements. Politicians in Florida and Arkansas warned of potential losses of contracts worth billions of dollars.

The UK imposed trade restrictions on Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria, aiming to pressure Israel. However, this decision unexpectedly created a threat to British businesses themselves. The American pro-Israel organization National Jewish Advocacy Centre launched a hotline to collect data on British companies that began complying with London's new requirements. The collected information is planned to be passed to authorities in US states with strict anti-boycott laws. Particularly tough stances were taken by politicians in Florida and Arkansas. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated that the state will not cooperate with companies participating in BDS. Republican Congressman Randy Fine warned that British companies could lose contracts worth billions of dollars. The article cites the precedent with Ben & Jerry's in 2021, when several states took retaliatory measures against Unilever. Congressman Carlos Gimenez proposed going further and limiting the ability of states participating in the boycott of Israel to maintain consulates in Florida. The conflict began after Israel's decision to promote construction in the E1 area, which the UK opposes. Israel responded by closing the British consulate in East Jerusalem and imposing entry restrictions.