Israel shuts British consulate in Jerusalem in retaliation for UK sanctions

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8% : File pic Israel has ordered the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem in retaliation for sweeping sanctions imposed by the UK on goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements further deepening an already bitter diplomatic dispute between the two countriesIsraeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the retaliatory measures after UK Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband described violent activity by Jewish settlers in the West Bank as ethnic cleansingThe measures announced by Israel include the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem and entry bans on several British MPsThe British consulate located in the Sheikh Jarrah area of Jerusalem deals primarily with Palestinianrelated issues in the Gaza Strip the West Bank and JerusalemThe UKs Ambassador to Israel is based separately at the British embassy in Tel AvivIsrael maintains that Jerusalem is its undivided capital and rejects the characterisation of its control over the city as an occupationUnited Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and is under its full sovereignty Saar said adding Any foreign activity in the area must be conducted through accepted and agreed channels and without violating Israels sovereigntySaar also announced entry restrictions against a number of mostly Leftwing British MPs former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn Your Party MP Zarah Sultana Labour MPs Diane Abbott Naz Shah John McDonnell and Richard Burgon as well as Green Party MPs Hannah Spencer Carla Denyer Sian Berry and Ellie ChownsThe Israeli government further announced that longstanding British involvement in the training of Palestinian security forces in the West Bank would be brought to an end The UK will also be excluded from the USled Gaza coordination mission which is based in Israel and is involved in coordinating activities related to the conflictSaar strongly criticised the British measures and accused London of interfering in Israels internal affairs and democratic processThe British move is morally distorted and constitutes blatant interference in the affairs of a sovereign state and its electoral process Saar saidIsrael has nothing against the British people We know that we have many friends in Britain Unfortunately a hostile Labour government is in office systematically acting against the state of Israel and it has left us with no choice but to finally respond to its hostile actions he saidSaar said he had coordinated Israels response with Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

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