In protest of sanctions imposed by Western countries — including the United Kingdom — on Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar declined a request on Tuesday to hold a diplomatic conversation with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
According to a report in Israel Hayom, Lammy spent the entire day attempting to schedule a call with Sa’ar, but the latter demonstratively rejected the request. Officials at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the refusal was a direct response to the UK’s move, which included not only personal sanctions but also a premature freeze of the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations between the two countries.
Responses in Israel and the United States
The UK sanctions — joined by Canada, Australia, and France — sparked widespread condemnation in Jerusalem. Figures from both the coalition and opposition, as well as in the American administration, including Benny Gantz and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, publicly criticized the decision.
Rubio stressed: “We reject any notion of equivalence: Hamas is a terrorist organization that committed unspeakable atrocities, continues to hold innocent civilians hostage….These sanctions do not advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war.”
Where Are Relations Headed?
Diplomatic sources in Israel believe that Sa’ar’s refusal may be only the first in a series of retaliatory steps, amid growing recognition that international pressure on Israel is likely to continue — and even intensify.
Israeli officials have identified coordinated diplomatic action among several Western countries, aiming to halt the fighting in Gaza through personal sanctions and public statements.
