UK defends Israel sanctions after being told to close consulate
The UK government has imposed sanctions on Israeli goods from West Bank settlements, citing the illegality of the occupation and the need to protect a two-state solution. Israel has responded with diplomatic retaliation, including a ban on UK lawmakers and a demand to close the British consulate in Jerusalem.
Why it matters
This represents a significant diplomatic rift between the UK and Israel, signaling a hardening of international stances regarding West Bank settlements.
The U.K. has defended its decision to impose new sanctions on certain Israeli goods, following backlash that saw London told to close its consulate in Jerusalem within a month.
Britain's foreign secretary Ed Miliband announced on Tuesday that Britain would ban imports from Israeli settlements built on the West Bank, adding that the U.K. government's official view is that the "occupation [of the West Bank] is unlawful."
The move prompted an accusation from Israel that the British government was "systematically working against" the country, and a ban on 12 U.K. lawmakers entering Israel. Britain has also been told to close its consulate in east Jerusalem within 30 days, according to reports .
A spokesperson for the Israeli government was not immediately available for comment, but Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar labeled Miliband's allegations of "ethnic cleansing" in the West Bank "outrageous lies."
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