The UK has warned it may expel Israeli diplomats if Israel proceeds with plans to close the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem this week.
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ManyPress Editorial
Key facts
- •The British Consulate General in East Jerusalem serves as a liaison for Palestinians and covers the West Bank and Gaza.
- •Israel announced the consulate's closure last month in response to UK trade bans on settlement goods.
- •The UK trade ban was implemented following Israeli plans to construct 1,200 new homes in the occupied West Bank.
- •The Israeli Foreign Ministry has stated the consulate is set to close on Thursday.
- •The UK Foreign Office has not denied reports of the expulsion threat, stating it will not comment on speculation.
The British government has threatened to expel Israeli diplomats from the UK in response to Israel’s decision to close the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem. Reports indicate the UK could expel one Israeli diplomat for every British official forced to leave, potentially affecting up to 27 staff members. The consulate, located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, is scheduled to close on Thursday.
By the numbers
Background of the Diplomatic Dispute
The closure of the consulate is a retaliatory measure by Israel following the UK's recent decision to ban trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The UK also announced sanctions on British firms involved in settlement construction. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has described the UK's trade sanctions as "morally distorted" and accused the British Labour party of hostility toward Israel.
Diplomatic Efforts and Legal Stance
UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell traveled to Jerusalem last week to negotiate a reversal or deferral of the closure, but those talks were unsuccessful. The warning regarding potential expulsions was reportedly delivered to Israeli officials by British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters. Meanwhile, the UK Foreign Office has received informal advice from former Attorney General Dominic Grieve suggesting that closing the consulate on the basis of its location in East Jerusalem would be unlawful, as the territory is recognized by the UK and the UN as occupied Palestinian territory.
Timeline
- Last monthThe UK announced a trade ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements.
- Last weekUK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell traveled to Jerusalem to attempt to prevent the consulate closure.
- ThursdayThe scheduled date for the closure of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Politics (UK), Middle East Eye, Anadolu Agency Europe.
