Israel Imposes Retaliatory Sanctions on UK Over 'Hostile' Policies

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, with the approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announced a series of retaliatory measures against the United Kingdom. These actions are a direct response to recent sanctions imposed by the UK government, which Israel views as hostile and contrary to its right to self-defense. Ashkenazi criticized the British foreign secretary's statements in parliament as "outrageous" and factually incorrect.

Ashkenazi stated that Israel has no issue with the British people but with the "hostile Labour government" that is "systematically acting against the State of Israel." He specifically cited British sanctions against settlements in Judea and Samaria and restrictions on arms supplies as contradicting London's stated support for Israel's self-defense. The minister also characterized the UK's decision as politically motivated interference in Israel's internal affairs, drawing parallels to the era of the British Mandate.

Highlighting historical and international legal justifications for Jewish presence in the Land of Israel, including the Balfour Declaration and decisions by the League of Nations and the UN, Ashkenazi condemned boycotts of Israeli goods and sanctions against residents and businesses in Judea and Samaria, accusing the UK of applying double standards.

The three specific retaliatory measures approved by Netanyahu include the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem, the cessation of British representatives' activities at the International Aid Center for Gaza, and the halting of a program to train Palestinian Authority forces in Ramallah. Additionally, Israel will ban entry to 12 British citizens deemed involved in antisemitic or anti-Israeli activities.

Ashkenazi warned that Israel is prepared to respond to any actions by other states that harm it, cautioning that countries damaging Israel risk losing influence in the region. This escalation follows reports that the UK has shifted its sanctions policy from targeting individuals to broader economic measures against Israel.