Britain said it could expel 27 Israeli diplomats serving at Israel’s embassy in London if Israel does not reverse its decision to close the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem.
Britain’s ambassador to Israel, Simon Walters, conveyed the warning to Israeli officials. The consulate general in East Jerusalem serves as a point of contact with Palestinians.
London’s trade ban raises tensions
The warning came as relations between Britain and Israel were becoming increasingly strained. Last month, Britain began enforcing a trade ban on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
London based its decision on the grounds that Palestinians were being subjected to ethnic cleansing. Israel’s plan to build 1,200 new homes in the occupied West Bank also drew international criticism.
Israel then announced plans to close the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem following Britain’s decision on the trade ban.