The UK has threatened to expel Israeli diplomats after Israel ordered the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem, in a dispute triggered by UK sanctions on goods from illegal settlements.
Key facts
- The UK has threatened to expel one Israeli diplomat for every British diplomat forced to leave Israel.
- This could mean as many as 27 Israeli diplomats being expelled from the UK.
- Israel ordered the closure of the UK consulate in East Jerusalem, due to take place later this week.
- The dispute follows a UK ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
- The step could mark the lowest point in British-Israeli relations since the formation of Israel.
The United Kingdom has threatened to expel one Israeli diplomat for every British diplomat forced to leave Israel following Israel’s decision to close the UK consulate in East Jerusalem later this week, according to the Guardian.
The threatened move could result in as many as 27 Israeli diplomats being expelled from the UK. The Guardian reported that such a step would arguably mark the lowest point in British-Israeli diplomatic relations since the formation of the state of Israel.
The escalation stems from a deterioration in relations after the UK banned goods from illegal settlements. According to Al Jazeera, Israel ordered the East Jerusalem consulate to be closed after Britain sanctioned settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The expulsions are expected to follow a tit-for-tat pattern, with each side removing diplomats in response to the other’s actions, the Guardian reported.
The closure of the UK consulate in East Jerusalem is due to take place later this week, setting the stage for the reciprocal diplomatic measures described by both outlets.
Why it matters
A dispute over settlement sanctions has pushed two long-standing allies toward reciprocal diplomatic expulsions, a sign of how seriously tensions over the occupied West Bank have escalated. The potential expulsion of as many as 27 diplomats would represent a severe downgrade in relations between the UK and Israel.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the UK threatening to expel Israeli diplomats?
The UK is responding to Israel's decision to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem, which Israel ordered after Britain sanctioned goods from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
How many diplomats could be expelled?
According to reporting, as many as 27 Israeli diplomats could be expelled from the UK, with the UK saying it will expel one Israeli diplomat for every British diplomat forced to leave Israel.
When will the UK consulate in East Jerusalem close?
Israel has ordered the consulate to be closed later this week.