The wire, unfiltered.

UK sanctions Israeli settlements, Israel shuts UK consulate in East Jerusalem

Photo — David Rado / Pexels

Britain has announced a sweeping ban on goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, with the foreign secretary accusing extremist settlers of carrying out the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. In a rapid and furious response, Israel has ordered the closure of the UK consulate in East Jerusalem, sharply escalating diplomatic tensions between a key Western ally and the Israeli government.