Sources told Reuters that Britain is likely to expel Israeli diplomats if Israel shuts the British consulate in East Jerusalem this week after UK settlement sanctions.
Britain is likely to expel Israeli diplomats if Israel closes the British consulate in East Jerusalem this week, four sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
Israel ordered the closure on 8 September, giving 30 days, after Britain said it would ban trade in goods made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Reuters said the deadline ends on Thursday and would affect about 30 British diplomats and their families. Sources said London would likely expel a similar number of Israeli diplomats from the embassy in Britain, but they did not say how quickly.
Both the British foreign office and the Israeli foreign ministry declined to comment, Reuters said. After the sanctions announcement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused London of interfering in Israel's general election this month.
Al Jazeera reported that National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell visited Israel last week and did not secure an agreement to keep the consulate open. A representative of Saar told The National the mission would close on Thursday as announced. Former British consul Sir Vincent Fean told Al Jazeera the closure was not the act of a friend or ally.
Britain has also been removed from a Washington-led Gaza coordination centre, and Israel has barred some UK lawmakers from entry, Al Jazeera reported. No expulsion order had been issued by Tuesday.
People Sentiments Negative
- Sources told Reuters Britain is likely to answer a consulate closure with expulsions from London.
- Sir Vincent Fean told Al Jazeera the closure order was not the act of a friend or ally.
- Both foreign ministries declined to comment to Reuters.