Israel to close British consulate in East Jerusalem after settlement sanctions

Israel has announced it will close Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem after the UK, France, Canada and 10 other countries announced measures targeting goods produced by Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told parliament the UK would introduce an import ban on goods from settlements in the occupied territories. The measures followed concerns over settlement expansion and rising violence in the West Bank, and were presented as targeting settlements rather than Israel or its people generally.

The countries also reaffirmed support for a negotiated two-state solution. Canada said settlement expansion significantly undermined that objective, while France cited the expansion of settlements and a flare-up of violence.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry published a list of 12 British nationals who will be refused entry, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana and Labour MP Diane Abbott. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also said Britain would be excluded from a US-led Gaza coordination mission and that British training of Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank would end.

Miliband accused Israel of turning a “blind eye” to what he called “ethnic cleansing” by settlers. Saar rejected the accusations, describing Britain’s measures as interference in Israel’s affairs.

No implementation date has been provided for the import bans or the other measures announced by Israel.