Tuesday, October 6, 2026 - Britain is considering expelling 27 Israeli diplomats from London if Israel proceeds with its order to close the British Consulate in East Jerusalem, according to sources cited by Reuters.
The threat comes as the Israeli-imposed deadline for closing the consulate approaches on Thursday, October 8. The diplomatic dispute has rapidly intensified after Britain announced measures targeting trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The potential expulsions would mark an unusual escalation between two countries that remain security, intelligence and economic partners.
Israel ordered the consulate closure in September and has said it will take further action in response to Britain's settlement-related measures. British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell recently held talks in Israel in an effort to prevent the closure, but no agreement was reached.
London is still hoping for a last-minute solution, but officials are preparing for a diplomatic confrontation if the consulate is shut. The British mission in East Jerusalem plays a key role in the UK's relations with Palestinians in the city, the West Bank and Gaza, making the dispute larger than a simple diplomatic tit-for-tat.
With Israel's October 27 election approaching, the next few days could determine whether the crisis is contained or develops into a much broader rupture in UK-Israel relations.
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