Britain threatens mass expulsion of Israeli diplomats over consulate closure

Britain has threatened to expel Israeli diplomats if Israel closes its consulate in East Jerusalem this week, a row over settlement trade sanctions.

• Britain threatened to expel one Israeli diplomat for each British diplomat forced to leave, up to 27, if Israel closes the consulate.
• Israel notified Britain on 8 September of a 30-day deadline expiring Thursday to close the consulate over London's sanctions on settlement goods.
• British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell visited Jerusalem last week to urge Israel to delay the closure; talks failed.
• Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the British sanctions a "moral distortion" and accused Britain's Labour Party of hostility toward Israel.
• Former British consul Sir Vincent Fean called the Israeli closure order unlawful and an infringement on UK-Palestinian relations.
• Four sources said the closure would affect around 30 British diplomats stationed at the consulate.
• Britain has not specified the timing of any response should Israel close the consulate this week.