Behind the scenes, London has made a last-minute effort to persuade Israel to reverse course.
By United with Israel Staff
Britain has warned that it could expel 27 Israeli diplomats from London if Israel follows through with the closure of the British Consulate in eastern Jerusalem this week, threatening a major new rupture in relations between the two countries.
The warning was conveyed to Israeli officials by British Ambassador Simon Walters, according to Ynet, which first reported the development. Under the threatened measure, Britain would expel one Israeli diplomat for each of the 27 British diplomats whose work in Jerusalem is being terminated.
Such a move could severely disrupt the Israeli Embassy in London, whose diplomatic staff numbers only somewhat more than 27, according to the report.
Israel responded to the threat by warning that any British retaliation would be answered.
“There is no reason for us to respond to speculation regarding decisions that other countries may or may not make in the future,” an Israeli diplomatic source said. “We have already demonstrated that any step taken against Israel will be met with an appropriate response, and that will continue to be the case.”
The dispute is approaching a deadline Thursday, when Israel’s order closing the British Consulate in Jerusalem and revoking the accreditation of its diplomats is due to take effect.
Behind the scenes, London has made a last-minute effort to persuade Israel to reverse course.
British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell quietly traveled to Israel last week for talks aimed at preventing the closure, Reuters reported, citing three sources familiar with the visit.
Powell met Israeli officials but failed to secure an agreement. A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed to Reuters that Israel still intends to close the consulate Thursday.
The Guardian reported that Powell had also opposed Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband’s decision to move ahead with a ban on trade in goods from Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, amid concerns that the policy could politically benefit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s election.
The confrontation began last month after Britain announced a package of measures targeting Israel over its policies in Judea and Samaria.
The measures included a ban on imports from Israeli communities in the area, sanctions against individuals and businesses linked to settlement activity, additional restrictions related to arms exports and a change in Britain’s official position regarding Israel’s presence in territories claimed by the Palestinians.
Israel responded with a series of measures of its own.
Sa’ar, acting with Netanyahu’s approval, ordered the British Consulate in Jerusalem closed, removed British personnel from a U.S.-led Gaza coordination center and ended Britain’s involvement in training Palestinian Authority security forces.
Israel also barred 12 British lawmakers and other nationals whom it accused of anti-Israel or antisemitic activity or of denying Israel’s right to exist.
At the time, Miliband defended Britain’s actions despite acknowledging the damage Israel’s response would cause.
“I regret what the Israeli government has announced, but I’m proud of what we did yesterday,” he said.
Sa’ar accused the British government of pursuing a “morally distorted” policy and interfering in Israel’s election, arguing that London was singling out Israel while failing to adequately confront Palestinian terrorism.
The British Consulate operates separately from Britain’s embassy to Israel and handles London’s relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and Gaza.
Britain initially held off on publicly announcing retaliation while officials attempted to resolve the confrontation through diplomatic channels, according to reports.
With Powell’s intervention failing to produce an agreement and the Thursday deadline approaching, the threatened expulsion of 27 Israeli diplomats now raises the prospect of a far wider diplomatic confrontation between Jerusalem and London.
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