Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar warned Tuesday that Israel will retaliate if Britain moves ahead with threatened sanctions over Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria, declaring that Jerusalem is already preparing for the possibility of British action.
“If Britain acts against the State of Israel, the State of Israel will act against Britain,” Sa’ar said in an interview with Ynet’s political podcast. “We have tools.”
The warning came after British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said London plans to unveil a “comprehensive” package of measures in the coming weeks targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. The British government’s latest threat comes amid its opposition to Israel’s advancement of construction plans in the E1 area east of Yerushalayim.
Sa’ar accused the British government of systematically taking steps against Israel, pointing to previous restrictions affecting defense exports and sanctions imposed on Israeli ministers. He also argued that domestic politics are influencing London’s policies, noting that Britain’s governing Labour Party is scheduled to hold its conference later this month.
Asked what Israel could do in response, Sa’ar declined to reveal specific measures but made clear that Jerusalem would not allow British sanctions to go unanswered.
“If they act, I think they will make a big mistake,” Sa’ar said. “It will work the opposite of how they perhaps dream it will work. But if they act against us, we will act.” When asked whether he was referring to diplomatic measures, Sa’ar responded: “Why hint? What I said is enough. We are preparing. If they make a mistake, there will be a response.”
The confrontation centers on plans for approximately 1,200 housing units in E1. Miliband has described the Israeli project as “unacceptable and destructive” and demanded that Israel immediately halt the plans. Britain argues that construction in the area would undermine the territorial continuity it considers necessary for a future Palestinian state.
Miliband has said Britain will not accept what he described as the destruction of the two-state solution and has pledged a broader response targeting those involved in expanding Israeli communities. His latest announcement indicates that London intends to present that package within the coming weeks.
Sa’ar, however, made clear that any such move would open the door to Israeli countermeasures, without revealing what those steps could entail.
“If they act against us, we will act,” Sa’ar said.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
2 Responses
The Islamic Republic of Britain still thinks it’s 1948. Cute.
Israel cannot continue to let Europe get away with presenting itself as being on the moral high ground as they obviously consider themselves to be – they need to confront that fake facade head on already and say straight out PUBLICALLY, LOUDLY and CLEARLY that the infamous ‘two state solution’ is a FRAUD and as big a threat to the peace as there could be! And anyone continuing to support it post Oct 7 is doing nothing but supporting the destruction of Israel behind a nice cliched fig-leaf. “We’ll retaliate”, “The British Mandate is over”, etc completely miss the point and do not answer the claims against them in any way, which ends up just making them look all the more valid! A shame