Israel to close UK consulate in Jerusalem

Israel decided to close the United Kingdom consulate in Jerusalem in response to the UK's decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced in a press conference on Tuesday, labeling the UK move as "morally distorted",APAreports. The minister stated that Israel will also ban entry for 12 publicly elected officials, including members of parliament, over their "anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic activities." Saar further said that the UK Labour government is "hostile" towards Israel, accusing it of "systematically working against the State of Israel." "We know that we have many friends in Britain. Unfortunately, we have a hostile Labour government that is consistently operating against the State of Israel, and it has left us no choice but to respond to its hostile actions," he noted. The official further insisted that the British government is trying to "force upon Israel" the establishment of a Palestinian state "in the heart of our land."