Frankfurt (Germany), 8 Sept. (LaPresse) – Israeli Minister of National Security 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. This was reported by the Israeli broadcaster i24News. The request comes following the announcement of the long-awaited British sanctions against Israel. Ben-Gvir has also called for the closure of the British Council and any other organisation operating on behalf of the consulate in relation to residents of the Palestinian National Authority. According to the minister, the British decision is the result of a long-standing British policy of ‘ignoring repeated provocations’ and of ‘friendship’ towards Israel which, in his view, has damaged the country’s status as an independent and sovereign state and, in particular, its sovereignty over Jerusalem. “The Israeli government’s response must be clear and unequivocal: close the British consulate in East Jerusalem and send all consuls back to their country of origin,” wrote Ben-Gvir. The minister, the broadcaster further reports, also criticised the activities of the British Council in Jerusalem and in the Palestinian Authority territories, claiming that the UK funds programmes dedicated to the preservation of Palestinian heritage and other initiatives relating to 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 compromise its sovereignty.
Israel: Ben-Gvir calls for the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem
Frankfurt (Germany), 8 Sept. (LaPresse) – Israeli Minister of National Security 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. This was reported by the Israeli broadcaster i24News. The request comes following the announcement of the long-awaited British sanctions against Israel. Ben-Gvir has also called for the closure of the British Council and any other organisation operating on behalf of the consulate in relation to residents of the Palestinian National Authority. According to the minister, the British decision is the result of a long-standing British policy of ‘ignoring repeated provocations’ and of ‘friendship’ towards Israel which, in his view, has damaged the country’s status as an independent and sovereign state and, in particular, its sovereignty over Jerusalem. “The Israeli government’s response must be clear and unequivocal: close the British consulate in East Jerusalem and send all consuls back to their country of origin,” wrote Ben-Gvir. The minister, the broadcaster further reports, also criticised the activities of the British Council in Jerusalem and in the Palestinian Authority territories, claiming that the UK funds programmes dedicated to the preservation of Palestinian heritage and other initiatives relating to 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 compromise its sovereignty.