Israel is pushing back against new trade restrictions that the United Kingdom imposed on Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The retaliatory countermeasures, which included closing the British Consulate in Jerusalem and expelling British aid workers from the U.S.-backed international aid center for Gaza in the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Gat, were announced by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday.
The Israeli government also moved to halt the British military from training Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank and to bar British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, his counterparts in 11 other countries, and British citizens expressing anti-Israel or antisemitic views from entering the Jewish state.
“The message to any government that harms us is clear,” Sa’ar posted on X. “Whoever acts against Israel — Israel will act against him, and he will lose his influence and relevance in the region. Moves against Israel will not go unanswered.”
The announcement came hours after a 12-nation coalition led by the U.K. implemented a ban on imported goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a disputed Palestinian territory, among other restrictions.
“Today, we’re calling out the occupation of Palestine as unlawful,” Miliband said in a video statement. “We’re banning the import of goods from illegal settlements. We’re taking action on services to target those who finance, facilitate, or construct new settlements, and we’re banning advertising of settlement properties and land.”
Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden were the other nations that signed on to a joint statement.
The international move came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly ordered unauthorized West Bank settler outposts to be dismantled in the face of scrutiny from Western nations, including the United States, over settler violence against Palestinians.
Sa’ar specifically criticized the Labour-controlled British government for its “outrageous lies and actions” while welcoming outreach from members of Britain’s opposition party. The Israeli foreign minister said he had a “great conversation” with Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, and Tom Tugendhat, shadow foreign secretary of the U.K.
“I thanked them for their firm opposition to the hostile Labour Government’s announcement today and its series of anti-Israel policies since taking office,” Sa’ar wrote. “I welcomed their support for the friendship with Israel and their commitment for the future relations between our countries. We know that we have many friends in the UK, but unfortunately we are faced with the ongoing hostility of the current Labour government.”
UK IMPLEMENTS RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE TO ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS IN WEST BANK
This marks Israel’s latest retaliatory move against European nations that have been critical of the Jewish state.
Last month, the Israeli government expelled Dutch representatives from the Gaza international aid center after the Netherlands banned imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.