London  Tensions flared between the United Kingdom and Israel this week after Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, hit back at Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s condemnation of Israel’s controversial settlement plans in the occupied West Bank. Speaking to the Daily Mail on Thursday night, Ms Hotovely dismissed Britain’s criticism, declaring: “I wouldn’t tell the British where to build in London, so don’t tell us where to build in Jerusalem.” Her comments came after Mr Lammy summoned the ambassador to the Foreign Office to express the UK’s “grave concerns” over Israel’s approval of the

London  Tensions flared between the United Kingdom and Israel this week after Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, hit back at Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s condemnation of Israel’s controversial settlement plans in the occupied West Bank. Speaking to the Daily Mail on Thursday night, Ms Hotovely dismissed Britain’s criticism, declaring: “I wouldn’t tell the British where to build in London, so don’t tell us where to build in Jerusalem.” Her comments came after Mr Lammy summoned the ambassador to the Foreign Office to express the UK’s “grave concerns” over Israel’s approval of the so-called E1 settlement project — a long-debated plan to construct more than 3,400 homes on land east of Jerusalem. Mr Lammy described the move as “deeply troubling,” warning that it would “critically undermine the prospects of a viable two-state solution” and effectively split a potential Palestinian state in two. Settlement development in the E1 corridor has been a point of contention for more than two decades, repeatedly drawing condemnation from the international community. Most countries consider Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal under international law and an obstacle to lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The latest approval came on Wednesday, when an Israeli defence ministry planning committee gave the green light for construction to proceed. While Israel argues that settlement expansion is a matter of national security and urban development, critics insist the project represents a decisive blow to the already fragile peace process. The UK joined other Western nations this week in urging Israel to reconsider the plan, but Hotovely’s sharp retort suggests Israel has no intention of backing down.

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