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Britain defended its sanctions on Israeli settlements after Israel ordered a 30-day closure of the U.K. consulate in response. UK Foreign Minister Ed Miliband said Britain 'could not simply stand by' out of fear of Israeli reaction, defending the sanctions policy despite the diplomatic fallout. The dispute adds another layer of tension to UK-Israel relations amid broader international disagreements over settlement policy in the occupied territories, with the consulate closure marking a significant escalation in the diplomatic standoff.