France and Canada join UK in issuing trade sanctions on Israeli settlements – POLITICO

LONDON — France and Canada will join the U.K. in imposing new trade sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in a major diplomatic boost for Britain as it toughens its stance on Israel.

In the House of Commons Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed Britain, France and Canada will impose a ban on the trade of goods and some services from Israeli settlements, having last month condemned Israel’s plans for 1,200 new homes in the E1 area east of Jerusalem.

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the British consulate in Jerusalem will be closed, and warned “countermeasures” could be taken against other countries acting “against Israel.”