Israel to close UK consulate in East Jerusalem over sanctions

Israel will close the British Consulate in East Jerusalem and end the activities of British representatives at the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat in response to UK sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

According to Report, citing The Jerusalem Post, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the measures.

Israel also intends to prevent British military personnel from training Palestinian Authority security forces in Ramallah and bar 12 British elected representatives and other UK citizens from entering the country.

Saar described the UK sanctions as interference in Israel's internal affairs. He said statements by London and other countries that had announced similar measures would make it more difficult to reach a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Earlier, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced new sanctions targeting Israeli settlements. London plans to ban imports of goods produced in the settlements, restrict a number of services, including those related to settlement construction and financing, and prohibit advertising of property in those areas.