UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, on the deadline day for bids on Israel's E1 settlement tender:
"We have created new powers allowing us to sanction individuals and companies involved in the construction of illegal settlements such as E1." "We urge businesses and individuals
Assessment
Ed Miliband's statement lands on the exact day bidding closes for the E1 tender, a deliberate signal that UK sanctions are now a live risk. The new powers target both companies and individuals, widening the deterrent beyond state-level criticism. The immediate question is whether any bidders pull back, and whether these powers get exercised quickly enough to matter.