Israel will close British consulate in Jerusalem
The move comes in retaliation for London’s sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said. Israel on Tuesday announced plans to close Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem and take further measures against the UK.
Britain’s Diplomatic Actions Following Settlement Import Ban
The UK has announced significant diplomatic measures in response to its decision to prohibit imports from Israeli settlements. According to Reuters, Israeli Foreign Minister Saar stated that the British consulate, which is accredited to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, will be closed as a result of this policy shift.
Additionally, Saar indicated that the UK would no longer participate in the US-led coordination mission for Gaza. British training programs for Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank are also set to be halted.
In a further escalation, Israel plans to deny entry to 12 elected UK officials and other British citizens deemed to be involved in antisemitic and anti-Israel activities.
The UK government has also committed to targeting companies and individuals associated with financing and expanding Israeli settlements. Miliband emphasized that Britain can no longer merely condemn injustices, characterizing the situation in parts of the West Bank as ethnic cleansing.
Miliband said he felt “a deep sense of shame” over Palestine. Smotrich said Israel would not be a “doormat” to what he described as the “antisemitic” government of the UK. Earlier reporting noted: “The accusations made today by the foreign secretary in the British Parliament were outrageous lies,” said Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar said. Earlier reporting noted: UK foreign secretary Ed Miliband had accused Israeli “terrorists” of “ethnic cleansing” in West Bank. He also said that the UK government would officially recognise Israel’s occupation of the West Bank as unlawful in its entirety, calling the move “the least the people who face such suffering deserve” and saying it should “be the prelude to justice.”
The economic impact of the ban is expected to be limited, as Israeli settlements produce few exports, mainly agricultural. However, the move signals growing discontent among Israel’s allies. Settlement expansion has accelerated under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Israel’s response followed calls from finance minister Bezalel Smotrich for the immediate expulsion of the British ambassador.
Earlier reporting noted: Israel announces closure of UK consulate in Jerusalem in response to sanctions over West Bank settlements Israel announced on Tuesday that it will close the United Kingdom consulate in Jerusalem in response to sanctions over West Bank settlements in retaliation for London leading Western sanctions over violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in West Bank.