Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar spoke on Monday evening with UK Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch and Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat, following the British government’s latest announcement imposing sanctions on Jews in Judea and Samaria.
Sa’ar said he thanked the two senior Conservative politicians for their firm opposition to the announcement and to what he described as a series of anti-Israel policies pursued by the Labour government since it took office.
“Great conversation this evening with UK Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch and Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat," Sa’ar said.
“I thanked them for their firm opposition to the hostile Labour Government’s announcement today and its series of anti-Israel policies since taking office."
The Foreign Minister also welcomed the two opposition leaders’ support for strong ties between Britain and Israel and their commitment to the future of relations between the two countries.
“I welcomed their support for the friendship with Israel and their commitment for the future relations between our countries," Sa’ar stated.
He stressed that Israel continues to have significant support in Britain despite his criticism of the current government.
“We know that we have many friends in the UK, but unfortunately we are faced with the ongoing hostility of the current Labour government," he said.
Sa’ar added that he thanked Badenoch for offering her wishes ahead of Rosh Hashanah.
“I also thanked Kemi for her warm wishes ahead of the Jewish New Year," he concluded.
Earlier, Sa'ar announced that Israel will close the British Consulate in Jerusalem and take a series of additional countermeasures in response to new sanctions announced by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.
Under the measures, Israel will close the British Consulate in Jerusalem, remove British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat, terminate British activities training Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria under the “British Support Team in Ramallah," and deny entry to Israel to 12 British elected representatives and other British nationals involved in antisemitic and anti-Israel activity or who deny Israel's existence.