World News
UK CONSIDERS DIPLOMATIC RETALIATION AFTER ISRAEL ORDERS JERUSALEM CONSULATE SHUTDOWN
Britain is considering a reciprocal diplomatic response if Israel goes ahead with the planned closure of the UK consulate in East Jerusalem later this...
By Wavers News
image credit: The Guardian
The move would mark a significant escalation in the already strained relationship between Britain and Israel, following a series of disputes over Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
ISRAEL PREPARES TO CLOSE UK CONSULATE
Israel has ordered the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem, with the move expected to take effect on Thursday.
The consulate is separate from Britain's embassy in Tel Aviv and has a distinct diplomatic role covering East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. It is located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem.
Israel's decision came after Britain introduced measures targeting trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and imposed sanctions on British companies accused of supporting or facilitating settlement construction.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has criticised the British measures, describing the decision to impose sanctions as unjustified and accusing Britain's governing Labour Party of hostility towards Israel.
BRITAIN CONSIDERS RECIPROCAL ACTION
Britain has indicated that it could expel one Israeli diplomat for every British diplomat forced to leave Israel if the consulate is closed.
That could result in the expulsion of up to 27 Israeli diplomats from Britain.
The proposed response would represent one of the most serious diplomatic escalations between the two countries in recent years.
However, the British government has not publicly confirmed that the expulsions will take place, leaving the measure as a potential response should the consulate closure proceed.
DIPLOMATIC EFFORT TO PREVENT CLOSURE FAILS
Britain had attempted to persuade Israel to reverse or delay the closure.
UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell travelled to Jerusalem last week for discussions with Israeli officials, but the talks failed to secure an agreement to keep the consulate open.
The dispute has also raised concerns among other Western diplomats, who fear that the closure could establish a precedent affecting the operation of foreign diplomatic missions in Jerusalem.
DISPUTE DEEPENS UK-ISRAEL TENSIONS
The latest confrontation adds to a growing list of disagreements between Britain and Israel.
Britain has become increasingly critical of Israeli settlement expansion and its conduct of the war in Gaza, while Israel has strongly opposed several of London's recent measures.
With the consulate closure deadline approaching, both sides now face the possibility of further diplomatic action that could deepen the deterioration in relations.