UK threatens to expel 27 Israeli diplomats over Jerusalem consulate closure
· World · Al Jazeera, NDTV
Britain warned Israel it would expel 27 Israeli diplomats should Israel proceed with closing the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem, Ynet reported. The British Ambassador Simon Walters conveyed the warning to Israeli officials on Monday, the report said. Israel ordered the consulate’s closure by October 8 in retaliation for Britain’s sanctions on illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Britain’s National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell travelled to Israel last week to persuade officials to reverse the closure, though Reuters reported the talks yielded no agreement. The consulate operates separately from the British Embassy and handles relations with Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
Why it matters
Israel faces the loss of 27 diplomatic posts if it follows through with the consulate shutdown, while Britain risks expelling an equal number of its own diplomats. The standoff could deepen diplomatic isolation for both sides in the already tense Jerusalem arena.
Read the original report — Al Jazeera
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