Western sources indicated today, Tuesday, that Britain might expel Israeli diplomats if Israel proceeds with its decision to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem this week, amid a dispute over sanctions targeting Israeli settlements.
Israel ordered Britain on September 8 to close the consulate in East Jerusalem within 30 days and withdraw its diplomats from the city, after London announced it would impose a ban on trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Reuters reported that the deadline for Britain to close the consulate expires on Thursday, which will affect around 30 British diplomats working there, along with their family members.
Sources speaking on condition of anonymity indicated that if the consulate is closed, Britain is likely to respond by expelling a similar number of Israeli diplomats from the Israeli embassy in Britain.
The sources did not specify how quickly Britain would react if the consulate is closed. After Britain announced the sanctions, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accused London of interfering in the upcoming Israeli general elections this month.
The British Foreign Office and the Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment.
An Israeli official stated that any actions against Israel would be met with a response.
Britain's announcement of the sanctions and Israel's response marked a new deterioration in relations between the two countries, which have had a strong relationship.
London has repeatedly criticized Israel for its actions in the Gaza war and for the attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians.
The Israeli government accused the ruling British Labour Party of hostility towards Israel.
The British consulate, located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem, manages the country's relations with Palestinians in the city as well as in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It also provides consular services for Palestinians.
The consulate has been in Jerusalem for nearly 200 years, long before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
Reuters reported Monday that British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell visited Israel unannounced last week in an attempt to keep the consulate open but failed to reach an agreement. A fifth source stated that Britain still hopes to reach an agreement.
Two other sources mentioned that Britain has asked European countries to raise this issue with Israel in hopes of convincing the government to retract its decision.
A spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Minister told Reuters on Monday that the consulate will close its doors on Thursday.
When announcing the sanctions, Britain stated that Israel's actions undermine the possibility of reaching a two-state solution, which is the idea of a Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government openly rejects the idea of establishing a Palestinian state.
Britain, which recognized the State of Palestine last year, pointed to projects supported by the Israeli government to expand settlements and the increase in attacks by settlers targeting Palestinians in the West Bank. The British sanctions are set to take effect next year.
France and Canada joined the announcement of the sanctions. Israel has not taken any action against those two countries.
This development highlighted the growing frustration among Israel's longtime allies regarding its settlements in the occupied West Bank, territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 war. Most countries and all United Nations bodies consider the settlements illegal under international law, a stance that Israel disputes.