Eight Arab and Muslim nations back UK ban on Israeli settlement goods, Israel retaliates by closing consulate
Geopolitics
Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement on Wednesday, September 9, welcoming Britain's decision to ban imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and to impose restrictions on services linked to those settlements. The foreign ministers of the eight countries expressed hope that Britain's decision would spur the international community to take similar measures under international law, including holding accountable organisations and individuals involved in illegal settlement activity. They also called on Israel to halt all measures related to settlement activity and stressed that the only path to a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace is to make the two-state solution a reality. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced a series of retaliatory measures against Britain on Tuesday, September 8, including ordering the closure of the British consulate general in East Jerusalem and the withdrawal of British officials from the US-led Gaza coordination centre, in response to Britain's decision to ban imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
