Britain Threatens to Expel 27 Israeli Diplomats Unless Israel Reverses the Closure of Its Jerusalem Consulate
Britain has warned Israel that it will expel 27 Israeli diplomats from the embassy in London unless Jerusalem reverses its decision to close the British Consulate General in eastern Jerusalem, a message conveyed to Israeli officials shows. The warning marks a sharp escalation in relations that deteriorated further in September 2026, when London banned imports of goods from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and sanctioned individuals and companies it says support or profit from them. Britain considers the communities illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes.
In response, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced a series of measures against Britain, including the closure of its consulate in eastern Jerusalem, which serves Palestinians and employs 27 British diplomats. The closure and the revocation of the staff's diplomatic credentials was due to take effect on Thursday, October 8, 2026; dozens of locally employed staff have already been dismissed and the British diplomats are preparing to leave. Sa'ar's other measures included removing British representatives from the Gaza aid coordination center in Kiryat Gat, ending British involvement in training Palestinian Authority security forces in Judea and Samaria, and barring 12 British elected officials and other citizens from entering Israel over antisemitic or anti-Israel activity.
British officials were shocked by the measures and particularly angered that the consulate's diplomats were given only 30 days to leave, noting that Russia had given Britain four months to close its St. Petersburg consulate. Britain initially refrained from announcing retaliation, believing quiet diplomacy could persuade Israel to reverse course. British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters has now informed Israeli officials that if the closure goes ahead, Britain will expel 27 diplomats from the Israeli Embassy in London — one for each British diplomat whose work in eastern Jerusalem is being terminated. Such a move would severely impair the embassy's ability to operate; the mission has been without an ambassador since Tzipi Hotovely returned to Israel in September 2025.
(YNN/VFI News)
“Our Father in Heaven, we pray in Yeshua's Name that You would give wisdom to Foreign Minister Sa'ar and Israel's leaders as they stand firm on Jerusalem. We ask You to soften hearts in London and to turn this confrontation toward understanding rather than escalation. Strengthen Israel's diplomats serving in Britain, and let Jerusalem remain united under Israel's care. We thank You that You are the One who watches over the city You chose.”