UK-Israel spat gets ugly: Tel Aviv to close British consulate in Jerusalem
Israel has announced retaliatory measures against the UK, including closing the British consulate in East Jerusalem and banning 12 UK officials from entering the country. This follows Britain's decision to impose an import ban on goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Why it matters
The escalation marks a significant diplomatic rift between two long-term allies over the legality and status of Israeli settlements.
Israel on Tuesday announced plans to close Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem and take further measures against the UK. The move comes in retaliation for London’s sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said.According to news agency Reuters, Saar said the consulate, which is accredited to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, would be shut following Britain’s decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements.He also announced that Britain would no longer be allowed to participate in the US-led coordination mission for Gaza and that British training of Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank would be terminated, according to the Israeli foreign minister.Saar further said that Israel will prevent the entry into Israel of 12 elected UK officials, as well as other British citizens Sa’ar said were “involved in antisemitic and anti-Israel activity.”The announcement came after Britain, France, Canada and 12 other countries…
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