The United Kingdom has threatened to expel one Israeli diplomat for every British diplomat forced to leave Israel, following Israel's decision to close the UK consulate in East Jerusalem later this week. This could result in the expulsion of as many as 27 Israeli diplomats from the UK.
Israel's foreign ministry has stated the consulate will close on Thursday. This move comes in protest of the UK's decision to ban trade with goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and to impose sanctions on British firms that support or facilitate further settlement construction.
The UK Foreign Office has received informal advice from former UK attorney general Dominic Grieve, suggesting that Israel's closure of the consulate, based on its location in East Jerusalem, may be unlawful. East Jerusalem is recognised by the United Nations and most of its members, including the UK, as occupied Palestinian territory.
Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, has described Britain's sanctions decision as “morally distorted” and accused the UK's ruling Labour party of hostility towards Israel. UK national security adviser Jonathan Powell travelled to Jerusalem last week in an unsuccessful attempt to persuade the Israeli government to reverse or defer the consulate's closure.