Israel slams UK sanctions over violence against Palestinians

By Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) – Israel denounced on Tuesday a British government decision to pause free trade agreement negotiations and impose sanctions on illegal settlers over violence against Palestinians.

“Even prior to today’s announcement, the free trade agreement negotiations were not being advanced at all by the current UK government,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry called the UK sanctions “unjustified and regrettable.”

“The British Mandate ended exactly 77 years ago,” the statement said.

The UK on Tuesday imposed sanctions on three Israeli individuals, two illegal settler outposts and two organizations supporting violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. London also suspended negotiations for a free trade agreement with Tel Aviv.

Israel's actions are “morally unjustifiable, wholly disproportionate. No matter what Israel claims, this is not how you bring hostages home,” said UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.