Israel closes UK consulate and bans 12 British officials amid Andy Burnham sanctions row

Mr Saar added 12 British officials would be banned from entering Israel.

Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, Mr Saar said: “We do not return to our land after 2000 years in order to lose it under the pressure of Islamists, antisemites, jihadists, woke people and people from the extreme left.

“Not only will you not harm us, you will harm yourselves.”

Mr Saar confirmed the measures shortly after Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband accused Israel of turning a blind eye to the "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians".

Mr Miliband insisted a "new approach" was needed because plans for the E1 development in the West Bank would render a two-state solution “unviable” by “cutting through the heart of Palestine”.

Despite the Foreign Secretary's announcement, Mr Saar did not ban the Doncaster North MP from visiting Israel.

Israel instead announced disgraced former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was banned.

Mr Corbyn, who has been accused of antisemitism and once described Hamas as "friends", was joined on the ban list by Labour MPs Naz Shah, Diane Abbott, John McDonnell, and Richard Burgon.

Green MPs Hannah Spencer, Carla Denyer, Sian Berry, Ellie Chowns and Adrian Ramsay were all included on Israel's banned list.

Mr Saar added: “If Britain acts against Israel, Israel will act against Britain.”

The Israeli foreign minister went on to accuse the Labour Government of perpetuating "outrageous lies", adding: "The British move is morally distorted, and constitutes blatant interference in the affairs of a sovereign state and its electoral ⁠process."

Other Israeli ministers have suggested going further and even urged Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly recognise Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands.

Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Mr Netanyahu must “recognise Argentina’s sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and to impose sanctions on Great Britain as long as the occupation continues."

Meanwhile, Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich demanded the expulsion of the UK's ambassador.

However, Mr Saar doubled down on criticisms of the Labour Government by warning the measures increase the risk of antisemitism on Britain's streets.

He said: “These measures by the Labour Government in Britain, along with biased and one-sided anti-Israel rhetoric, have already contributed significantly to the unprecedented rise in antisemitic attacks, including violent attacks against British Jews.”

No10 was already forced to reject Mick Huckabee's suggestion that the UK was perpetuating "Jew hate".

A Downing Street spokesman said: “We completely reject that assertion. We’re committed to protecting Jewish communities in the UK and continue to engage with community leaders and groups.”

But Mr Miliband's statement in the House of Commons also divided MPs on both sides of the chamber.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Tom Tugendhat warned turning Israel into a “pariah” would heighten sectarian division.

Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice added: "Does he understand that so many people are concerned all it will do is embolden the scourge of antisemitism against British Jews on British streets?"

Meanwhile, Labour MPs Dame Emily Thornberry and Sir Hilary Benn welcomed the announcement.

The Green Party responded by calling for further sanctions on Israel, including withdrawal from the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement.