Israel Bans Entry Of 12 British Nationals, Shuts Consulate As Tensions With UK Escalate Over Sanctions

Israel on Tuesday announced a series of retaliatory measures against the United Kingdom, including the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem and a ban on the entry of 12 British nationals, in response to London-led Western sanctions over Israeli settlements and settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar strongly criticised the British government, accusing it of interfering in Israel’s internal affairs ahead of the country’s October 27 elections.

“The accusations made today by the foreign secretary in the British Parliament were outrageous lies,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said, after his British counterpart Ed Miliband accused Israeli settlers of “ethnic cleansing” in the West Bank, AFP reported.

Israel Hits Back At UK

“The British move is morally distorted and constitutes blatant interference in the affairs of a sovereign state and in its electoral process,” Saar added.

Saar said Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem, which is accredited to the Palestinian Authority, would be shut down. He also announced that the UK would no longer be allowed to participate in the US-led coordination mission for Gaza.

UK-Backed West Bank Sanctions Trigger Row

The 12 banned British nationals include former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, a prominent supporter of the Palestinian cause. The list includes mostly members of UK parliament. Among them is Zarah Sultana, who recently left the Labour Party alongside Corbyn to help form the left-wing Your Party.

12 countries, including UK, Canada and France announced they would sanction trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, following a surge in settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied territory.

The diplomatic action comes weeks before Israel’s October 27 election, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu campaigning on his support for Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Saar said the British consulate being shut down is located in East Jerusalem, an area Palestinians claim as part of their historic territory and which Israel captured during the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel later annexed East Jerusalem and treats the entire city as its capital.

Although Israel exercises control over East Jerusalem, most countries, including the UK, do not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the whole city. The United States is an exception. During Donald Trump’s presidency, Washington moved its embassy to Jerusalem. UK and most other countries that maintain diplomatic ties with Israel continue to have their embassies in Tel Aviv.