Britain has issued a sharp warning to Israel, threatening to expel 27 Israeli diplomats and their families if Jerusalem moves ahead with plans to close the British Consulate in East Jerusalem.
The warning comes as diplomatic tensions between the two countries continue to deepen over Britain’s policies toward Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
According to Arab media reports, Britain’s ambassador to Israel, Simon Walters, conveyed London’s message to Israeli officials. The reported warning says that if the diplomatic status of the 27 British diplomats working at the East Jerusalem consulate is affected, Britain could take a reciprocal step and order the same number of Israeli diplomats to leave the country.
The British embassy has not officially commented on the report, while Israel’s Foreign Ministry has also not immediately confirmed the details.
Israel has ordered the British Consulate in East Jerusalem to close by October 8, 2026. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar reportedly took the decision in response to British measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including restrictions involving goods produced in or linked to those settlements.
The East Jerusalem consulate operates separately from Britain’s embassy in Tel Aviv and plays a significant role in London’s political and consular affairs involving Palestinians in Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
Britain has attempted to prevent the closure. National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell reportedly made an unannounced visit to Israel last week for talks with Israeli officials. However, the discussions failed to produce an agreement to keep the consulate open, although negotiations are reportedly continuing as the deadline approaches.
Israel has also taken other measures against Britain, including removing British representatives from a US-led Gaza coordination centre, ending Britain’s role in training Palestinian security forces in Ramallah and restricting entry by some British politicians and public figures into Israel and the occupied territories.
At the heart of the dispute is Britain’s opposition to Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank. London argues that such policies undermine prospects for peace and a two-state solution, while Israel has condemned Britain’s actions as unilateral and hostile.
With the October 8 deadline looming, the dispute risks triggering a significant new diplomatic confrontation between two traditionally close allies.
