Israel closes UK consulate as Europe sanctions West Bank settlers

The Israeli government has ordered the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem in response to the latest sanctions by the United Kingdom.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar also directed the removal of British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat.

Sa’ar announced the termination of the training of Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) under the British Support Team in Ramallah.

The countermeasures include the denial of entry to Israel to 12 British elected representatives and other nationals “involved in antisemitic and anti-Israel activity.”

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Sa’ar accused the Labour government of systemically acting against Israel, citing “a series of severe sanctions” against Israeli settlers in the West Bank and embargoes on arms.

“The British move is morally distorted and constitutes blatant interference in the affairs of a sovereign state and in its electoral process,” he stated.

On Tuesday, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced an import ban on goods from the West Bank settlements and barred UK companies from providing services to them.

Miliband hinted that the restriction affects the financing, construction, infrastructure, advertising, and real estate sectors. France and Canada are taking similar measures.

Other countries include Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Spain, and the Netherlands, which have banned goods or are about to do so. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden have pledged further action.