Israel has given the United Kingdom 30 days to close its consulate in East Jerusalem, in retaliation for British sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Two officials and two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday that British diplomats assigned to the consulate would also lose their diplomatic accreditation after the 30-day period.
British representatives working with a US-led Gaza coordination mission in Israel, as well as diplomats based in Ramallah, have reportedly been given seven days to leave.
The measures follow the UK’s decision, alongside France and Canada, to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements. Britain announced a ban on imports from the settlements and restrictions on companies and individuals providing services connected to them, including construction, infrastructure, financing and real estate.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed the closure of the British consulate and said the UK would also be excluded from the Gaza coordination mission.
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Saar described Britain’s decision as “morally distorted” and accused London of interfering in Israel’s internal affairs and electoral process ahead of next month’s election. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said he regretted the country’s decision but said it was not unexpected.
Miliband defended the sanctions, saying the British government had weighed the consequences of taking action and concluded it could not stand by amid concerns over Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence against Palestinians.
Tel Aviv has also announced a ban on training Palestinian security forces by British personnel and barred several British nationals, including former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn, from entering the country.
France and Canada have announced similar restrictions on imports from Israeli settlements, while several other countries, including Denmark and Portugal, have endorsed the British action.
The government is expected to discuss further measures against countries that supported or joined the sanctions, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Al Jazeera
