Occupation government announces a series of measures against Britain in response to its imposition of sanctions on settlements
Ramallah, Sept 8 (KUNA) -- The Israeli occupation government announced on Tuesday a series of measures against Britain in response to London’s imposition of economic sanctions on settlements established on occupied West Bank lands. Occupation Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced at a press conference that these measures include closing the British consulate in East Jerusalem, which serves Palestinians, expelling British representatives from the Coordination and Liaison Assistance Command (COGAT) regarding the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and halting British participation in training the Palestinian police. According to Sa’ar, the measures were taken with the knowledge of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in response to Britain’s steps, which he described as “interference in Israeli affairs and an attempt to influence the elections.”
Earlier, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced the imposition of a new set of trade restrictions on illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, amid escalating violence perpetrated by settlers and plans to build additional illegal settlements.
Also earlier on Tuesday, the foreign ministers of Britain and 11 other countries, as part of a joint international move to protect the two-state solution, issued a joint statement regarding measures against illegal Israeli settlements. The statement, issued by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Britain, said these measures were taken to protect the two-state solution, which is threatened by the practices of the Israeli occupation government in the West Bank.
The countries affirmed “their determination to impose national restrictions and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods with settlements that are illegal under international law and others, in accordance with their national procedures.” (End) N.Q./M.A.A.
