Israel to close British consulate in East Jerusalem after UK, France and Canada ban imports from settlements
LONDON/TEL AVIV/PARIS: Israel said on Tuesday it was closing Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem in response to plans by the UK, France and Canada to block imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Britain will also no longer participate in a U.S.-led coordination mission for Gaza and some British officials and other nationals will be banned from entering Israel, Israeli Foreign…
On Tuesday, Israel announced it would close Britain's consulate in East Jerusalem following the UK, France, and Canada's plans to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. British Foreign Minister Gideon Saar declared the British decision to be "morally distorted" and a violation of Israel's sovereignty. He dismissed Foreign Minister Ed Miliband's remarks as "outrageous lies."
The consulate in East Jerusalem serves the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Israel coordinated its response with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The upcoming election in late October will coincide with these developments. France announced its intention to ban products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, emphasizing the broader series of actions targeting Israel's settlement policy.
Canada, too, vowed to take further steps to defend the two-state solution, highlighting the diplomatic isolation faced by Israel among traditional allies. The trade measures proposed by Britain, France, and Canada are the latest in a series of actions aimed at addressing Israel's settlement policy, as the growing diplomatic isolation of Israel among some traditional allies intensifies.
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