Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Tuesday that Israel will close the British consulate in Jerusalem in response to London’s decision to impose sanctions on Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
elchi reports that on Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a ban on trade with Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.
He emphasized that London would take measures against companies operating in the settlements and would ban the advertising of any goods or services associated with them. At the same time, according to Miliband, trade with Israel itself – within its recognized borders – will not be restricted.
According to Saar, the restrictions imposed by the British Labour government, as well as biased and one-sided anti-Israel rhetoric, have already significantly fueled an unprecedented rise in antisemitic attacks against British Jews. Saar noted that the measures taken by London also constitute interference in the elections scheduled in Israel for the end of October.
Saar stated: “With the consent of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, I have decided… to close the British consulate in Jerusalem as part of Israel’s response to the new sanctions imposed by the British Labour government.”
The minister noted that Israel’s next response measure would be the removal of British representatives from the international center in Kiryat Gat, which monitors the situation and provides aid in Gaza.
Israel’s response measures also include halting British efforts to train Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank. Another measure will be a ban on entry into Israel for 12 elected British officials and other UK citizens involved in antisemitic and anti-Israel activities.
Great Britain had previously imposed sanctions on Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, as well as on radical settlers and organizations associated with them.
Israel’s settlement activity in the West Bank is a key issue in its relations with the international community and the Palestinian Authority. Furthermore, these actions hinder the achievement of peace with Palestinians, who view Jewish settlement activity as a policy aimed at consolidating the Jewish state in Palestinian territories.
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