Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on Thursday morning rejected his British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's demand that Israel scrap plans for construction in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Maaleh Adumum.
Miliband became Britain's Foreign Secretary last month after newly installed Prime Minister Andy Burnham carried out a major Cabinet reshuffle.
"I reject outright the statement of the UK Foreign Secretary and the patronising tone of his words," Sa'ar wrote on X.
"The Jewish people have the right to live throughout the Land of Israel, just as the British have the right to live in London and throughout the United Kingdom. More than a century ago, the Balfour Declaration formally recognised the historic right of the Jewish people to re-establish their national home in the Land of Israel - including in the area in question."
Sa'ar also called out British hypocrisy, noting, "Britain itself still controls colonial territories thousands of miles from its shores. It is absurd for Britain to lecture the Jewish people about where they may live in their historic tiny homeland, when the Jewish people’s connection and right to this land is the most extensively documented of any people in human history."
"There have been no new decisions regarding development in E1. The decision was made in 2025.
"The tender process has been underway for several months, with certain tender documents published only in recent days."
He blasted, "The British Foreign Secretary’s statement is entirely one-sided."
"It condemns Israel while turning a blind eye to Palestinian terrorism, incitement and the Palestinian Authority’s continued financial support for terror - the 'pay for slay' policy.
"The UK Government’s systematic policy of blaming only Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism has already contributed to a massive wave of antisemitic hatred and attacks against the British Jewish community. Continuing down this path will only make the situation worse.
"The UK Government’s decision to damage the relationship between our countries is deeply unfortunate. But Israel will not be a passive victim of this policy.
"Israel will defend its rights, its interests and its people."