The Israeli Foreign Minister announced today the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem. The decision comes as retaliation for the sanctions imposed by London against Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Israel justifies the measure as a direct response to the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom and other Western countries. The Israeli government considers these sanctions an interference in its sovereignty over the territories.
The closure of the consulate represents an escalation in diplomatic tensions between Israel and the United Kingdom. The British representation in Jerusalem was responsible for handling consular affairs in the region.
Israel has decided to maintain pressure on the countries that imposed sanctions on the settlements. The British consulate was one of the main Western diplomatic representations in East Jerusalem.
