Britain may expel Israeli diplomats if Israel follows through with an order to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem. This order was made after Britain announced a ban on goods made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel gave Britain a 30-day deadline, ending on Thursday, to close the consulate, which employs around 30 British diplomats and their families. If the consulate shuts down, Britain could respond by expelling a similar number of Israeli diplomats from their embassy in the UK.
The relationship between Britain and Israel has become strained, with Britain criticizing Israel for its actions in Gaza and settler violence against Palestinians. In contrast, Israeli officials accuse the British Labour party of being unfriendly towards Israel. The British consulate, located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem, has operated for nearly 200 years and assists Palestinians in the region.
Efforts made by Britain’s national security adviser to reach an agreement with Israel to keep the consulate open were unsuccessful. Britain is seeking support from European countries to persuade Israel to change its decision. The British sanctions are set to take effect next year and have been justified by Britain citing Israeli actions that undermine the possibility of a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel. Other countries like France and Canada have also announced similar sanctions. This situation shows the growing frustration among Israel’s allies regarding its settlement policies in the occupied West Bank, which many view as illegal under international law.
With information from Reuters
