Britain likely to expel Israeli diplomats if Jerusalem consulate closes, sources say
TEL AVIV, Oct 6 -
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sources → expel → diplomats
Britain is likely to expel Israeli diplomats if Israel carries out its order to shut the British consulate in East Jerusalem this week in a dispute over sanctions targeting Israeli settlements, four sources said.
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sources → expel → settlements
Israel on September 8 ordered Britain to close the East Jerusalem consulate within 30 days and remove its diplomats from the city, after Britain said it would impose a ban on trade of goods made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
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it → order → Bank
The 30-day deadline for Britain to close the consulate ends on Thursday, which will impact around 30 British diplomats who work there, along with their family members, the sources said.
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sources → close → members
If the consulate is closed, Britain is likely to respond by expelling a similar number of Israeli diplomats from Israel's embassy to the United Kingdom, the sources said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
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sources → close → anonymity
The sources did not say how quickly Britain would act if the consulate closes.
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consulate → say → ?
After Britain announced the sanctions, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused London of interfering in this month's Israeli general election.
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Saar → announce → election
The British foreign office did not respond to a request for comment.
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office → respond → comment
The Israeli foreign ministry declined to comment.
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ministry → decline → ?
An Israeli official said any action against Israel would be met with a response.
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action → say → response
The British sanctions announcement, and Israel's response, marked a new low in the relationship between the once steadfast allies.
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announcement → mark → allies
Britain has repeatedly criticised Israel over its actions in the war in Gaza and over Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians.
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Britain → criticise → Palestinians
Israel's government has accused Britain's governing Labour party of being hostile towards Israel.
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government → accuse → Israel
The British consulate, in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, handles the country's relations with Palestinians in the city as well as in the West Bank and Gaza.
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consulate → handle → Bank
It also provides consular services to Palestinians.
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It → provide → Palestinians
The consulate has been in Jerusalem for almost 200 years, long before the State of Israel was established in 1948.
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Reuters reported on Monday that Britain's top national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, had quietly visited Israel last week in a bid to keep the consulate open but failed to reach an agreement.
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adviser → report → agreement
A fourth source said Britain was still hopeful an agreement could be reached.
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agreement → say → ?
Two other sources said that Britain has asked European countries to raise the issue with Israel in hope of convincing the government to reverse its decision.
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Britain → say → decision
A spokesperson for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told Reuters on Monday the consulate would close on Thursday.
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consulate → tell → Thursday
In announcing the sanctions, Britain said that Israel's actions were undermining the possibility of a two-state solution — the idea of a Palestinian state co-existing peacefully alongside Israel.
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state → announce → Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government openly rejects the idea of Palestinian statehood.
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government → reject → statehood
Britain, which recognised the State of Palestine last year, cited Israeli government-backed projects to expand settlements and rising settler attacks targeting Palestinians in the West Bank.
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which → recognise → Bank
The British sanctions are to take effect next year.
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sanctions → take → effect
France and Canada joined in announcing sanctions.
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France → join → sanctions
Israel has not taken action against Paris or Ottawa.
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Israel → take → Paris
The incident highlighted growing frustration among Israel's longtime allies over its settlements in the occupied West Bank, territory Israel captured in a 1967 war.
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Israel → highlight → war
Nearly all countries and all UN bodies view the settlements as illegal under international law, which Israel disputes.
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Israel → view → which
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