Frankfurt (Germany), Sept. 8 (LaPresse) – Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem and revoke the work visas of British diplomats. Israeli broadcaster i24News reports that the request came after Britain announced the expected sanctions against Israel. Ben-Gvir also called for the closure of the British Council and any other organization operating on behalf of the consulate for residents of the Palestinian Authority. According to the minister, the British decision is the result of years of British policy of “ignoring repeated provocations” and maintaining “friendship” toward Israel, which, in his view, has harmed the country’s status as an independent and sovereign state and, in particular, its sovereignty over Jerusalem. “The Israeli government’s response must be unequivocal and clear: close the British consulate in East Jerusalem and send all the consuls back to their country of origin,” Ben-Gvir wrote. The minister also criticized the British Council’s activities in Jerusalem and in Palestinian Authority territories, claiming that the United Kingdom funds programs dedicated to preserving Palestinian heritage and other initiatives concerning Palestinian history and heritage. Ben-Gvir finally accused London of behaving “as if we were still in the era of the British Mandate”, arguing that Israel, as an independent and sovereign state, should not accept activities that undermine its sovereignty.
Frankfurt (Germany), Sept. 8 (LaPresse) – Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem and revoke the work visas of British diplomats. Israeli broadcaster i24News reports that the request came after Britain announced the expected sanctions against Israel.
Ben-Gvir also called for the closure of the British Council and any other organization operating on behalf of the consulate for residents of the Palestinian Authority. According to the minister, the British decision is the result of years of British policy of “ignoring repeated provocations” and maintaining “friendship” toward Israel, which, in his view, has harmed the country’s status as an independent and sovereign state and, in particular, its sovereignty over Jerusalem.
“The Israeli government’s response must be unequivocal and clear: close the British consulate in East Jerusalem and send all the consuls back to their country of origin,” Ben-Gvir wrote.
The minister also criticized the British Council’s activities in Jerusalem and in Palestinian Authority territories, claiming that the United Kingdom funds programs dedicated to preserving Palestinian heritage and other initiatives concerning Palestinian history and heritage. Ben-Gvir finally accused London of behaving “as if we were still in the era of the British Mandate”, arguing that Israel, as an independent and sovereign state, should not accept activities that undermine its sovereignty.
