UK Threatens to Expel 27 Israeli Diplomats Over Consulate Closure

The United Kingdom has warned Israel that it will expel 27 Israeli diplomats from its embassy in London if Israel proceeds with its plan to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem. This ultimatum was conveyed to the Israeli side amid escalating tensions between the two nations. The document detailing this threat came into Ynet's possession on Monday, October 5.

The current diplomatic crisis began on September 8 when the British government imposed sanctions on Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, accusing Israel of "ethnic cleansing of Palestinians." In response, Israel's Foreign Ministry decided to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem, which serves Palestinians. The consulate employs 27 British diplomats, and its closure, along with the revocation of their diplomatic status, is scheduled to take effect on Thursday, October 8. Local contract workers have already been dismissed, and diplomats are preparing to depart.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also announced further retaliatory measures, including the removal of British representatives from a base in Kiryat Gat, the cessation of British training programs for Palestinian Authority forces in Ramallah, and a ban on entry into Israel for 12 British officials accused of antisemitic and anti-Israeli activities and denying Israel's right to exist. On October 4, a similar entry ban was issued for Zak Polanski, leader of the British Green Party, which has labeled Zionism a form of racism.

Sources indicate that London was surprised by Israel's strong reaction, particularly the short 30-day notice given for the consulate's closure, contrasting it with Russia's four-month notice to the UK for closing a consulate in St. Petersburg. Despite attempts at behind-the-scenes resolution, the threat of diplomat expulsion suggests these efforts have failed. The Israeli embassy in the UK has more than 27 staff, so its operations are not expected to cease.

The UK's firm stance is reportedly part of the policy of Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who previously accused Benjamin Netanyahu's government of causing suffering in Gaza and the West Bank and vowed to ban imports from Israeli settlements. Miliband condemned "ethnic cleansing by settler terrorists" and "war crimes in Gaza," calling Israel's occupation of Palestine illegal and vowing to prevent the destruction of the two-state solution.