Israel orders closure of UK consulate in Jerusalem

Israel has ordered the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem and announced retaliatory measures following the United Kingdom’s decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The UK government, supported by several European nations including France and Canada, is moving to restrict trade and target entities that facilitate settlement expansion.

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar ordered the consulate's closure and announced further steps, including entry bans for specific British Members of Parliament and the curtailment of certain bilateral cooperation arrangements.

The diplomatic tension follows the UK’s warning to businesses regarding construction tenders in the E1 area, a strategically significant location east of Jerusalem. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated that the government would not be a “bystander in the destruction of the two-state solution,” warning that companies bidding for E1 construction projects could face sanctions and legal consequences for involvement in breaches of international law.