Israel close UK consulate in Jerusalem

Israel have made their intention to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from the West Bank clear. The reason these sanctions are being brought in now is because there will be no West Bank soon if Israel are left to their own devices. Israel have been escalating their expansion across the West Bank rapidly, over 60 Palestinian communities have been erased in the past 2 years by Israel, their current plans which these sanctions hope to stop are their plans to divide the West Bank in 2. There will be no long term for Palestinians if Israel have their way, they couldn't have made their intentions clearer.
"We are going to fulfill our promise that there will be no Palestinian state. This place belongs to us." - Benjamin Netanyahu

No my point was not that Palestinians want them there, the point is there will be a negative impact on some but Israel itself will be fine and instead the UK will the one that loses more. what happens when Uk based charities cannot operate in Israel. This short termist thinking is what screws up the middle east. The “haha that’ll teach you” without thinking through consequences.

I think we are in good company, with Canada, France, and Spain, and that this was the right path to take. The world does not need to support people who behave as the Israelis have been behaving. They can change if they want to and trade can resume.

Not really. Whatever you think of the underlying issue, this is a predicable (and no doubt predicted) calibrated response.

There’s a hell of a lot more the UK could have done if it wanted, and a hell of a lot more that Israel could have done in response if this were a random lashing out.

Cutting intelligence cooperation being the big one.

What do you think countries should do to sanction Israel for their actions in the West Bank then.
Because it is a direct result of their policies that is making life extremely difficult and dangerous for the residents.

I don't think we should let Labour Friends of Israel, Isaac Herzog, and the Shadow Foreign Secretary speak for Palestinians?

Do you know any? I do! In fact, it's where I went to study Arabic and I still have friends there. Including in a small village near Nablus that has just recently had its actual income, it's agricultural land, set on fire by settlers.

Not a single person I know has ever said that they are afraid of losing settlements as a source of, once again, not actually well paid employment.

What people do say is "they act with complete impunity. Nobody cares about what happens to us".

ETA: No, people don't go there to study Arabic anymore either. Too volatile. Those were actually well-paid jobs.

I would also point out that co-ordination with Palestinian authorities and charities happens through the consulate. The UK will now lose that… slow clap for Labour. In a few days you’ll see people complaining that they are not able to do their work with Palestinians.

Argentina always do this to deflect from the fact their economy is dire.

No but individuals will be impacted, when someone goes home to tell their kids they lost a well paying job because labours scared of losing votes to the greens and various gaza mp’s I’m sure they will feel better.

This doesn’t actually solve any problems in the west bank but it does make life more difficult for people.

Truly pathetic toys-out-of-pram behaviour by the Israeli government

Eh? Since when would this mean we would give up the Falklands to a country that has no claim to them?

You might want to actually read up on this one. There have been several solid studies on what the occupation does to the Palestinian economy. Here's UNCTAD's: https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/gdsapp2026d1_en.pdf

Spoiler: it's not "settlements are great for well-paying jobs"

It is not the UK acting alone on this.

About time!

The value of british exports to israel is something like 3.5 billion, something like 17,000 Palestinians work for west bank israelis and they are well paid. This is going to have a negative impact on Palestinians and if the Israelis choose to they can look for alternatives to uk exports which is bad for us.

It’s a bloody stupid thing to do, haven’t even touched on intelligence co-operation.

I was coming on to say the same thing.Since when has the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from the West Bank been considered a “minor local issue”. Disgusting.

Good about time we stood up to Israel, every one tip toeing around them is the reason they think they can do whatever they wan’t.

I imagine some other countries will follow suit, not the US Trump won’t dare go against his darling Bibi.

A ‘minor local issue’. How cruel. Palestinians have been terrorised by these crazed settlers for decades. Only a few days ago, two children were buried who were murdered by them.
The injustice is beyond belief but as long as you have your safe & settled life all is well I suppose.

100% wish we weren't going down this route. We have enough problems and enemies without pissing of the US and Israelis over a minor local issue.

You do realise Israel doesn't even have a blue water navy? And that the oil exploration project that has put this one back on the agenda is a joint British-Israeli venture?

Practical risk here? Basically zero. Ben-Gvir is hardly a credible source.

Can you expand on this? How do you think 'your way of life' will be disrupted by the UK and other countries using a peaceful tool ie sanctions to try and help implement international law?

It's about the groups of terrorists in the West Bank. Do you think their actions are ok?

At the potential cost of disrupting or harming our way of life here? I’d much rather we sat this one out personally.

Shocking decision by UK government.

They've essentially sacrificed the Falklands to appease the anti-Israel left.

Bloody hell...the British government falling behind Hamas terrorists on this. Absolutely shocking. Well there goes an ally in the middle East all to appease the Palestinian hate mobs.....