Israel to close British consulate in Jerusalem in response to UK sanction on West Bank settlements

Israel will close the British consulate in Jerusalem in response to UK sanctions on West Bank settlements, the country's foreign minister said Tuesday.Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced the move as part of a series of countermeasures against the UK for its decision to ban trade with the Israeli settlements. In a statement, Sa'ar said Israel would also expel UK representatives from a joint military centre monitoring the Gaza ceasefire and end UK training of the Palestinian Authority's security forces in the West Bank. In addition, Israel will prevent the entry into Israel of 12 elected UK officials, as well as other British citizens, Sa'ar said, who were 'involved in antisemitic and anti-Israel activity.'