UK Threatens to Expel 27 Israeli Diplomats Over Consulate Closure

A diplomatic crisis between Israel and the United Kingdom has escalated, with Britain threatening to expel 27 Israeli diplomats from its embassy in London if Israel proceeds with its decision to close the British Consulate in East Jerusalem. The threat was conveyed through British officials to Israel, according to reports.

The dispute intensified last month when the UK imposed economic sanctions on settlements in the West Bank. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced retaliatory measures, most notably the closure of the East Jerusalem consulate, which serves the Palestinian population and employs 27 British diplomats. This closure is slated to take effect this Thursday, with local staff already dismissed and the British team preparing to depart.

Sa'ar's response also included other punitive actions: barring British representatives from an international aid center for Gaza in Kiryat Gat, halting British training for Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank, and banning entry to Israel for 12 British public figures and citizens involved in antisemitic, anti-Israel activities, or who deny Israel's right to exist.

Sources familiar with the matter indicated that British officials were surprised by the strength of Israel's reaction and particularly angered by the short 30-day notice period for the diplomats' departure. They noted that even Russia granted Britain four months to close its consulate in St. Petersburg in a comparable situation.

Initially, the UK refrained from public statements, hoping for quiet behind-the-scenes negotiations to persuade Israel to reverse its decision. When these efforts failed, British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters delivered a clear message: if the closure decision stands, Britain will expel one Israeli diplomat for every British diplomat forced to leave East Jerusalem. Such a move could severely cripple the functioning of the Israeli embassy in London, which currently has slightly more than 27 diplomats. The embassy has been operating without a permanent ambassador since September 2025, managed by Chargé d'affaires Chris Cantor.