UK confident Israel intelligence sharing to continue despite 'damaging' sanctions backlash

Britain's Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has expressed confidence that intelligence co-operation with Israel will continue, despite sanctions imposed on illegal settlements in the West Bank. Miliband accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing" in the occupied territory, while a dozen countries backed restrictions on trade with settlements.

The Conservatives warned that the sanctions could undermine the vital relationship in combating Iran's covert operations. Security sources reported that Israeli intelligence information sharing with British agencies had already significantly decreased following Britain's recognition of a Palestinian state. Miliband assured the BBC that Britain would maintain its security partnership with Israel and work together against Iran, citing new UK sanctions targeting Tehran's nuclear program and hostile activities.

However, Israel has retaliated by announcing the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem, removal of UK personnel from the Gaza support center, ending British training of Palestinian Authority security forces, and barring 12 MPs from entering Israel. Despite the regrettable and damaging response, Miliband acknowledged that the sanctions were necessary to prevent the future Palestinian state's impossibility, settlers' land-taking, and ethnic cleansing.

The Conservative Party, along with British Jewish leaders, expressed concerns that the sanctions could weaken intelligence co-operation with Israel, posing a greater vulnerability to Iranian-directed activity.