U.K. government bans goods from Israeli settlements and accuses settlers of ‘ethnic cleansing’

Israel will close the British consulate in Jerusalem in response to United Kingdom sanctions on occupied West Bank settlements, the country’s foreign minister said Tuesday.

LONDON — The United Kingdom on Tuesday banned trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, where it says “settler terrorists” are carrying out “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians, in a significant toughening of Britain’s stance toward a longtime ally.

France and Canada announced they would take similar action in an attempt to prevent expanding settlements and growing violence from making it impossible to establish a future Palestinian state.

Israel responded angrily and said it would close the British consulate in Jerusalem.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the U.K. will ban imports of all goods from the settlements and bar companies from providing services for the settlements, including financing, construction, infrastructure, real estate and advertising.

“I do not believe the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops and supermarkets,” Miliband said.