UK threatens to expel 27 Israeli diplomats
The British ambassador to Israel, Simon Walters, warned the Israeli side that 27 diplomats would be expelled if Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar does not cancel the decision to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem. The escalation began after London imposed sanctions on settlements in September 2026. The decision to close the consulate takes effect on October 8.
The British ambassador to Israel, Simon Walters, notified Israeli representatives that London would expel 27 diplomats from the Israeli embassy if Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar does not cancel the decision to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem. The deterioration of bilateral relations peaked in September 2026, when Britain imposed economic sanctions on settlements in Judea and Samaria. In response, Sa'ar announced the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem and the revocation of diplomatic credentials for its staff. The decision is set to take effect on Thursday, October 8. Thus, the diplomatic crisis between the countries has entered a phase of direct threats of expulsion of diplomats.