UK Threatens to Expel 27 Israeli Diplomats Over Consulate Closure

The United Kingdom has threatened to expel 27 Israeli diplomats if Israel moves forward with plans to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem. This warning was reportedly conveyed by British Ambassador to Israel, Simon Walters, to Israeli officials, as reported by the Israeli media outlet Ynet. Israel has ordered the closure of the consulate by October 8 in response to British sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The British government has indicated it would expel one Israeli diplomat for each of the 27 British diplomats affected by the consulate's closure. The consulate, which operates independently from the British Embassy, manages relations with Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, including political and consular matters. Britain's National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, visited Israel last week in an effort to persuade Israeli officials to reconsider the closure, but no agreement was reached, and discussions are ongoing. The British embassy in Israel has not commented on the reported threat.