The UK Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, announced sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank on Tuesday, stating the measures are intended to deter settlement expansion and prevent the development of the E1 site. Speaking to Parliament, Mr Miliband said he would ban the import of goods from Israel's "illegal settlements" in the West Bank.
Mr Miliband also stated that "ethnic cleansing" was being carried out by "settler terrorists" and accused the Israeli government of turning a "blind eye".
In response, Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, said Israel will close the British consulate in Jerusalem and described the UK government as "hostile". Israel has opened tenders for the construction of some 1,200 settlement homes at the proposed E1 site.