🔻Britain says that if it closes its consulate in eastern Jerusalem, it will expel 27 Israeli diplomats

The UK Foreign Office has threatened that if the closure of this country’s consulate in eastern Jerusalem occurs, it will expel 27 Israeli diplomats from its territory.

Earlier, the Israeli government said that, in a retaliatory move in response to Britain’s decision to sanction products from Israeli settlements, it would close the British consulate in eastern Jerusalem from October 8 (16 Mehr).

An issue that could bring political relations between Britain and Israel to the lowest level since the establishment of that country.

Israel has threatened that, in protest at Britain’s decision to sanction goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, as well as sanctions on British companies that further help build illegal settlements, it will close the British consulate in eastern Jerusalem.

Dominic Grieve, the former Attorney General of Britain, has unofficially informed the country’s Foreign Office that if Israel closes the aforementioned consulate because it is based in Jerusalem, it will have committed an illegal act; because this area is recognized by the United Nations and most of its member states, including Britain, as Palestinian occupied territory.

At the same time, Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s foreign minister, described Britain’s decision to impose sanctions as “unethical” and accused the UK Labour Party of taking a hostile approach toward Israel.