Israel's angry reaction to the British government's decision to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank shows how important the current moment is.
The brunt of Israeli anger fell on Britain, but the fact that 12 countries decided to act together clearly increased the feeling of outrage.
Officials in London always knew that such a drastic turn in policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would provoke a hostile reaction, but they appeared stunned by the speed and fury of Israel's response.
The closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem, which serves the West Bank and directly interacts with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, and the removal of British representatives from the International Gaza Support Centre, a body created last year to coordinate stabilization and humanitarian assistance efforts in the Gaza Strip, could be considered highly hostile moves.
They show how deeply concerned Israel is about the actions taken Tuesday by Britain and 11 other countries, including France, Spain and Canada.
The products produced in the settlements may not account for Israel's total exports, but the political symbolism of being singled out for special trade treatment is extremely impressive.
For decades, British and other governments have considered settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory illegal, but have not gone so far as to ban products grown or produced there.
Now, having announced that the UK agrees with a 2024 International Court of Justice ruling that the occupation as a whole - including Israel's military presence - is unlawful, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband argues that the government's economic dealings must reflect that.
Hence the ban not only on products, but also on the work of companies providing construction, infrastructure or financing of settlements. The measures, which also include restrictions on the sale of weapons that “substantially contribute to the occupation,” go further than many expected.
And it’s not just the actions – it’s the tone of the sincere, sometimes deeply personal statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs that is striking.
As a "proud British Jew... unwavering in his support for the State of Israel", Miliband spoke out more directly and forcefully than almost any of his predecessors.
That the British Foreign Secretary has declared that "settler terrorism is rampant" and is responsible for the "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians in parts of the West Bank while the Israeli government "turns a blind eye" is truly remarkable.
Miliband called it a "reset" of British politics. At times it seemed as if a radical rethink was underway, leaving British-Israeli relations at their lowest point in decades.
Yes, the tense, febrile atmosphere that invariably accompanies the upcoming Israeli elections may partly explain the strong reaction of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, but most Israelis probably shared his sense of outrage.
Many Israelis find the aggressive messianic ideology of some settlers extremely problematic. Some consider their actions a national disgrace.
But that doesn't mean they agree that settlements built on land captured during the 1967 Six-Day War are illegal.
Most are likely to strongly disagree with former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who last year accused his successor Benjamin Netanyahu of turning Israel into an international pariah.
But they feel the ring of international condemnation tightening around them - from protests at Eurovision or sporting events to international arrest warrants issued against their leaders and now bans on settlement products - and it makes them anxious and defensive.
From the Palestinian point of view, on the other hand, this can be considered progress.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry praised the actions of the countries that imposed sanctions but called for "urgent, concrete measures" to stop Israel's "illegal settlement activities."
In London, Palestinian Ambassador Hussam Zomlot called the British government's decision "a turning point in relations between Britain and Palestine."
He said Britain's "bold steps" would help pave the way for an independent State of Palestine within the 1967 borders, with its capital in East Jerusalem.
However, Zomlot understands that the reality of the 59-year Israeli occupation has not ended or even changed significantly.
Prospects for the creation of a viable Palestinian state remain vanishingly slim, and there is little sign that concerted action by 12 countries will reverse Israel's seemingly inexorable takeover of the West Bank.
Only the United States has the influence necessary for this - if, of course, it decides to use it.
In 1991, President George H. W. Bush and his Secretary of State James Baker threatened to withhold $10 billion in loan guarantees from Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir's government when the notoriously tough Shamir refused to promise that the funds would not be used to finance settlement construction in the occupied territories.
