Israel has announced retaliatory counter-measures against the United Kingdom in response to sanctions imposed by the UK on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that these measures include the closure of the British Consulate in Jerusalem.
The move by Israel escalates a diplomatic row that has been ongoing for over a year. The UK's sanctions targeted individuals and entities involved in extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. These sanctions were announced in February 2024.
In the UK, the decision to sanction settlements has drawn varied reactions. Ed Miliband, a member of the UK Parliament, has publicly disagreed with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who described the UK's move as a "truly dark day" that endangered British Jews. This highlights a division in opinion within the UK regarding the sanctions and their potential impact.
The BBC's Newscast program has been analyzing the ongoing fallout between the two nations, featuring discussions with international correspondent Lyse Doucet and Panorama filmmaker Jane Corbin. The program, which provides daily analysis of political news, is produced by Miranda Slade with contributions from Anna Harris and Shiler Mahmoudi. Adam Fleming presented the analysis.
Listeners can access Newscast on BBC Sounds, with new episodes released daily. The program also maintains an online community and provides contact information via email and WhatsApp for listener engagement.