UK bans goods from Israeli settlements in West Bank, claiming 'ethnic cleansing' of Palestinians

The United Kingdom on Tuesday banned trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, claiming that "settler terrorists" are carrying out "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians. 

The Israeli foreign minister said that it would respond to the United Kingdom's decision by closing the British consulate in Jerusalem, the Associated Press reported. 

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the ban applies to imports of all goods from the settlements, and it bars companies from providing services to those settlements, including financing, construction, infrastructure, real estate and marketing. 

France and Canada would also ban goods from the settlements, Miliband said. 

The move is largely symbolic as the settlements produce only a small amount of largely agricultural exports, but it does represent a new sign of increasing efforts to isolate Israel as a result of the war in Gaza.