Britain could expel Israeli diplomats if Jerusalem consulate closes, say sources

Britain is likely to expel Israeli diplomats if Israel carries out its plans to shut the British consulate in East Jerusalem this week, four sources have stated.

The diplomatic rift follows the UK targeting Israeli settlements with sanctions.

On September 8, Israel gave London 30 days to close its consulate in East Jerusalem and remove its staff from the city. The move came after Britain announced plans to introduce a ban on the trade of goods produced within Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The 30-day window expires on Thursday, affecting roughly 30 British diplomats based at the mission alongside their family members. Should the consulate be shut down, Britain is expected to respond by ejecting an equivalent number of Israeli representatives from Israel's embassy to the United Kingdom, according to sources speaking on condition of anonymity.

It remains unclear how rapidly Britain would move if the facility closes. After the sanctions were outlined, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused London of attempting to interfere in this month's Israeli general election.

The British foreign office and the Israeli foreign ministry both declined to comment, but an Israeli official warned that any measures against Israel would be met with a response.

The British sanctions announcement, and Israel's response, marked a new low in the relationship between the once steadfast allies. Britain has repeatedly criticised Israel over its actions in the war in Gaza and over Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians. Israel's government has accused Britain's governing Labour party of being hostile towards Israel.

The British consulate, in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, handles the country's relations with Palestinians in the city as well as in the West Bank and Gaza. It ⁠also provides consular services to Palestinians.

The consulate has been in Jerusalem for almost 200 years, long before the State of Israel was established in 1948. Reuters reported on Monday that Britain's top national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, had quietly visited Israel last week in a bid to keep the consulate open but failed to reach an agreement. A fifth source said Britain was still hopeful an agreement could be reached.

Two other sources said that Britain has asked European countries to raise the issue with Israel in hope of convincing the government to reverse its decision. A spokesperson for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told ‌Reuters on Monday the consulate would close on Thursday.

In announcing the sanctions, Britain said that Israel's actions were undermining the possibility of a two-state solution  the idea of a Palestinian state co-existing peacefully alongside Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government openly rejects the idea of Palestinian statehood.

Britain, which recognised the State of Palestine last year, cited Israeli government-backed projects to ⁠expand settlements and rising settler attacks targeting Palestinians in the West Bank. The British sanctions are to take effect next year.

France and Canada joined in announcing sanctions. Israel has not taken action against Paris or Ottawa. The incident highlighted growing frustration among Israel's longtime ‌allies over its settlements in the occupied West Bank, territory ​Israel captured in a 1967 war. Nearly all countries and all UN bodies view the settlements as illegal under international law, which Israel disputes.