Israel closes British Consulate in Jerusalem in response to UK sanctions
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced Tuesday that Israel will close the British Consulate in Jerusalem and impose additional countermeasures in response to new UK sanctions against Israel. The measures were approved in coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel will also remove British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat and end a British program that trains Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria. In addition, Israel will deny entry to 12 British elected officials and other British nationals accused of antisemitic or anti-Israel activity.
“Unfortunately, a hostile Labour Government is in office, systematically acting against the State of Israel, and it has left us with no choice but to finally respond to its hostile actions,” Sa’ar said. He stressed that Israel has “nothing against the British people,” adding, “We know that we have many friends in Britain.”
Sa’ar accused the British government of imposing sanctions for domestic political reasons ahead of the Labour Party Conference. “The British move is morally distorted and constitutes blatant interference in the affairs of a sovereign state and in its electoral process,” he said.
