Britain warned it will expel 30 Israeli diplomats from London if Israel closes its East Jerusalem consulate by Thursday, September 21, 2026. The warning follows Israel’s September 8 order that the consulate must shut within 30 days after Britain announced sanctions on settlement goods, a move that Britain says undermines the two‑state solution.
Britain’s sanctions, which will take effect next year, target the trade of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The foreign office said the measures aim to pressure Israel over settlement expansion, which the United Nations and most countries deem illegal under international law.
If the consulate shuts, Britain is likely to reciprocate by expelling a similar number of Israeli diplomats from its embassy in London, sources said. An Israeli official warned that any action against Israel would be met with a response.
The spat marks a sharp turn in the relationship between the two allies. Britain has long criticised Israel for its conduct in Gaza and for settlement attacks on Palestinians, while Israel’s government has accused Britain’s Labour Party of being hostile to Israel.
Britain’s top national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, visited Israel last week in an attempt to keep the consulate open but failed to reach an agreement. The consulate, located in Sheikh Jarrah, has been in Jerusalem for almost 200 years, predating the State of Israel in 1948.
Britain may act within days of the consulate’s closure, potentially triggering a tit‑for‑tat diplomatic standoff that could see both sides exchange diplomats.