Britain is likely to expel Israeli diplomats if Israel carries out its order to shut the British consulate in East Jerusalem this week in a dispute over sanctions targeting Israeli settlements, four sources said.
After Britain announced the sanctions, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused London of interfering in this month’s Israeli general election. The sources did not say how quickly Britain would act if the consulate closes. The British foreign office did not respond to a request for comment. The Israeli foreign ministry declined to comment.
Israel on September 8 ordered Britain to close the East Jerusalem consulate within 30 days and remove its diplomats from the city, after Britain said it would impose a ban on the trade of goods made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The 30-day deadline for Britain to close the consulate ends on Thursday, which will impact around 30 British diplomats who work there, along with their family members, the sources said.
An Israeli official said any action against Israel would be met with a response.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government openly rejects the idea of Palestinian statehood.
Two other sources said that Britain has asked European countries to raise the issue with Israel in hope of convincing the government to reverse its decision. In announcing the sanctions, Britain said that Israel’s actions were undermining the possibility of a two-state solution — the idea of a Palestinian state co-existing peacefully alongside Israel.
