JERUSALEM: Israel has announced the closure of the British Consulate in occupied East Jerusalem in response to trade restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom on products from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
According to the British government’s website, the consulate in Jerusalem represents the UK government in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said on Tuesday that Israel was closing the British consulate in response to Britain’s decision to impose restrictions on products originating from what the UK considers illegal Israeli settlements.
Sa’ar further said that Britain would no longer be allowed to participate in a US-led coordination mission for Gaza.
The move marks a further deterioration in relations between Israel and the UK amid growing disagreements over Israeli settlement activity and the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
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