Ahead of the Liberal Democrats Autumn Conference in Brighton on 19 – 22 September 2026, Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine submitted the below emergency motion for debate at the conference. The motion was rejected by the Federal Conference Committee.

Strengthening the UK’s response to Israeli settlement expansion and West Bank annexation

Conference notes: 

1. That Israeli settlement expansion, settler violence and forced displacement are at record levels, openly championed by senior Israeli ministers and supported by the IDF. 
2. That the appointment of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister on 20 July 2026 creates an opportunity to end years of UK complicity in Israel’s annexation of the West Bank and genocidal war on Gaza. 
3. That days before taking office, Burnham acknowledged Labour “didn’t get it right” in its response to Israel’s military action and pledged to “do better”. 
4. That there is still no evidence of measures tough enough to prompt meaningful change on settlement policy by the Israeli government.  
5. That on 18 August 2026, the Israeli government published a tender for its ‘doomsday’ E1 settlement project, which would split the West Bank in two with the purpose of destroying any possibility of a future contiguous Palestinian state. 
6. The announcement by the Israeli Knesset on 9 July 2026 that there will be a general election on 27 October 2026, but that none of the leading political parties are seeking a mandate to end the illegal occupation. 
7. That the Palestinian Authority has announced elections commencing in November 2026, the first to be held since 2006. 

Conference reaffirms:

1. The Autumn 2021 Federal Conference motion Towards a Lasting Peace (F39) and the Autumn 2024 Federal Conference motion The Israel-Gaza Conflict – an immediate bilateral ceasefire and securing two states (F32).

Conference believes that Andy Burnham’s Government must match its stated commitment to “do better” by fully implementing the UK’s obligations under the ICJ’s July 2024 advisory opinion, including the duty not to render aid or assistance that could sustain Israel’s unlawful occupation. Conference accordingly calls on the Government to:

1. Ban all trade with Israeli settlements, not just in goods but also in services and investments, and ban all other trade that assists Israel’s violations of international law. This should include: 
   1. Prohibiting UK companies from providing any services including financial services, construction, insurance, logistics, security, legal services, and marketing that facilitates, supports or economically benefits settlement activity.
   1. Prohibiting investment in settlement businesses and the donation of charitable funds to further settlement activity.
   1. Making it a criminal offense for British nationals and entities to buy, market, finance, or otherwise facilitate settlement property purchases.
2. Prohibiting the marketing of settlement accommodation to UK consumers on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com.
3. Introducing robust enforcement mechanisms and clear consequences for any violations of these bans.
4. Expand sanctions on individuals and entities linked to settler violence and settlement establishment, expansion or maintenance, including Israeli ministers, senior officials and companies.
5. Explore a programme of progressively banning travel to the UK by Israeli settlers, beginning with the most extreme.
6. Make clear that any company or individual involved in the construction of the E1 settlement project risks losing access to UK markets, contracts and investment opportunities.
7. Suspend all military cooperation with Israel until the IDF complies with its obligations as an occupying force in its treatment of civilians. 
8. Suspend the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement while its human rights clause remains breached.