Israel is preparing to announce a series of reciprocal measures and sanctions against France and other countries that have imposed restrictions on Israeli settlement activity, Kan News reported. The planned measures follow Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar’s announcement last night of steps against the United Kingdom.

Officials familiar with the plans said Israel is considering taking action against France and other countries in a format similar to its response to Britain. Under that approach, Israel decided to halt the activities of the British portions of the Gaza monitring center in Kiryat Gat and close the British consulate in Jerusalem.

British officials described Israel’s response as “excessive," arguing that “this is not an action directed against the State of Israel, but a response to extremists and violence." The Foreign Ministry has also decided to bar 12 British public figures and citizens from entering Israel over their alleged involvement in anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activity, including individuals who deny Israel’s existence.

Sa'ar said the Labour Party’s move was “especially absurd" in light of the Balfour Declaration, through which the British government officially recognized the right of the Jewish people to establish a national home in the Land of Israel, including Judea and Samaria.

He called the British move “a blatant and unacceptable attempt by a foreign government to influence during an election period. We didn’t return to our land after 2,000 years in order to lose it to Islamist jihadists. The Palestinians, too, will be directly harmed by your these steps."