Israel Retaliates Against UK Sanctions with Diplomatic and Travel Bans

Israel announced retaliatory measures on Tuesday, September 8, following the United Kingdom's imposition of economic sanctions against Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar declared the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem, the removal of British representatives from a joint staff in Kiryat Gat, and the cessation of UK-funded programs for Palestinian Authority forces in Ramallah. Additionally, Israel will ban entry to 12 British officials accused of antisemitic and anti-Israeli activities and denial of Israel's right to exist.

Saar stated that the UK initiated the move for domestic political reasons ahead of its Labour Party conference, calling the British action "immoral" and a "gross interference" in a sovereign state's affairs. He asserted the Jewish people's right to live in the entire Land of Israel, referencing the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate as historical precedents. Saar condemned boycotts of settlement products as "abhorrent" and sanctions on services as "disgusting," viewing them as an attempt to influence Israeli elections and impose a Palestinian state, which he believes Israeli society overwhelmingly rejects.

Meanwhile, the UK is expected to announce sanctions against five specific Israeli settlers, identified as Ben-Tzion Gopstein, Meir Mordechai Ettinger, Eliav Levi, Baruch Marzel, and Avichai Swiss. A senior British source told Ynet that the violence in the region has escalated significantly, with over 2,200 Palestinians displaced since January. The source indicated that while the timing is sensitive due to upcoming elections, the UK felt compelled to act, emphasizing that the sanctions target goods, not services, with exceptions for settlement advertising.

The British source acknowledged the potential for an "escalation" but stressed the strength of UK-Israel relations, aiming to avoid damage to trade within Israel's internationally recognized borders. The UK Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, also announced new sanctions and reiterated a commitment to the two-state solution, a stance supported by a joint statement from several European nations, though Germany, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Austria declined to join the sanctions.

Saar warned that any country harming Israel would face reciprocal actions, stating, "He who acts against Israel will face Israel's retaliatory actions and will lose his influence and relevance." He also noted that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would not be resolved by external declarations and that anti-Israeli approaches hinder rather than help a solution.