Israel Closes UK Consulate in Jerusalem Over Sanctions

Israel announced retaliatory measures against the United Kingdom on Tuesday, including the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem and the expulsion of British representatives from an international center in Kiryat Gat. These actions, approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are a response to new sanctions imposed by London on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar detailed the measures, which also include halting British training for Palestinian Authority forces and banning twelve British lawmakers and other nationals from entering Israel due to alleged antisemitic or anti-Israel activities. Sa'ar strongly condemned statements made by his British counterpart, Ed Miliband, who accused "terrorist settlers" of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, calling them "scandalous lies." Sa'ar stated that Israel has no issue with the British people but accused the Labour government of being "hostile" and acting "systematically" against Israel. He criticized British decisions to ban settlement product imports and impose arms restrictions, deeming them "blatant interference" in Israel's internal affairs. Sa'ar also accused London of employing a boycott policy akin to the BDS movement and rejected British criticism of the E1 project, asserting no new decisions had been made and that road projects would ensure Palestinian territorial connectivity. He further criticized the UK for sanctioning Israel while allegedly taking no action against the Palestinian Authority's "Pay for Slay" policy. Sa'ar placed these sanctions within a pattern of actions by the Labour government since 2024, including recognition of a Palestinian state, renewed UNRWA funding, and restrictions on defense exports. He warned that "whoever acts against Israel, Israel will act against him," and that similar countermeasures could be taken against other nations.

Sa'ar also addressed British criticism regarding the E1 settlement plan, stating that no new decisions had been made and that the project was approved over a year ago. He contested claims that the planned construction would hinder Palestinian territorial continuity, pointing to two road projects designed to connect Bethlehem and Ramallah. The Foreign Minister also criticized the British government for sanctioning Israel while, in his view, taking no measures against the Palestinian Authority for its system of payments to terrorists and their families, which Israel terms "Pay for Slay."