Israel gives British Consulate in eastern Jerusalem 30 days to close

Israel has ordered the British Consulate in eastern Jerusalem to close within 30 days and revoked the accreditation of its diplomats, effective Tuesday. This decision, announced by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, is a direct response to British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's earlier declaration of an import ban on goods from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Additionally, British officials at the U.S.-led International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat and the British Support Team in Ramallah, which trains Palestinian Authority police, must cease operations and depart within seven days. Sa'ar stated, "A boycott of goods from Judea and Samaria is a despicable practice that harms hard-working, law-abiding citizens." Israel also plans to deny entry to 12 British elected representatives and other nationals involved in antisemitic or anti-Israel activities. Miliband acknowledged the Israeli decision would be "damaging" but maintained the UK's action was "absolutely the right thing to do."