Israel fires back at UK over suspended trade talks, rejects ‘external pressure’

Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a fiery statement after the U.K. suspended free trade talks over Jerusalem’s handling of the war in Gaza. The U.K. simultaneously imposed new sanctions on the West Bank as it condemned the "persistent cycle of serious violence undertaken by extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank."

The ministry claimed that talks for a new U.K.-Israel free trade agreement were already at a standstill before London’s announcement on Tuesday. Additionally, it accused the U.K. of harming its own citizens due to its "anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations."

"Even prior to today’s announcement, the free trade agreement negotiations were not being advanced at all by the current UK government," Israel’s Foreign Ministry wrote. "M...