Israel Closes UK Consulate, Bans Nationals Over Sanctions

Israel has ordered the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem and banned entry for 12 British nationals, including former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, in retaliation for sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom and 11 other countries on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The diplomatic escalation followed accusations by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband that Israeli settlers were engaged in "ethnic cleansing" and that the occupation of the West Bank is unlawful. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denounced the British government's actions as "outrageous lies" and "blatant interference" in Israel's domestic affairs, particularly ahead of the country's general elections scheduled for October 27. Saar stated that Israel would also expel British representatives from a US-led coordination mission for Gaza and terminate British training programs for Palestinian Authority forces. The closure of the consulate, located in East Jerusalem, signifies a significant deterioration in relations between the two nations, which have historically maintained close ties.