Israeli President Isaac Herzog has accused Britain of using sanctions—which he described as “unfair and politically motivated”—to interfere in elections, and called on European allies to speak with Israel before taking action against it, Politico reports.In an interview with Jan Philipp Burgard of the Axel Springer Global Reporter Network, Herzog said he felt distressed and offended on behalf of his people regarding the British government’s sanctions against Israel. He added that he considers them a grave mistake.British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced in September that Britain, together with France and Canada, would ban the import of goods and services linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. He also indicated that Britain would impose sanctions on companies and individuals providing services necessary for settlement expansion. Miliband stated that the British government agreed that Palestinians in certain parts of the West Bank are facing ethnic cleansing, adding that the Israeli government too often turns a blind eye to this. Herzog rejected this, stating that sanctions and bans would worsen the situation rather than help the Palestinians. He argued that the British were directly interfering in Israeli politics—something that should not be done. If anyone wished to resolve matters, they should engage in dialogue with Israel rather than assigning blame.This contentious situation has arisen ahead of Israel’s parliamentary elections, in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to remain in office at a time when Tel Aviv faces international isolation. Herzog called on friends in Europe and elsewhere to refrain from interfering in the election.Israel had previously responded to the British announcement regarding the ban on goods by stating it would retaliate by closing the British consulate in Jerusalem, and it also warned other nations of the consequences.
Israeli President calls British sanctions a “grave mistake” · BNN
