London: The United Kingdom has threatened to expel 27 Israeli diplomats and their family members in a retaliatory move should Israel close the British Consulate in East Jerusalem, Israeli media reported on Monday.
It comes amid a period of heightened tensions between the two countries in recent weeks, after the UK said last month it would ban imports of goods originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and restrict British companies from providing certain services to them.
The UK was one of 12 countries, including France, Spain and Canada that on Sept. 8 issued a joint statement condemning Israel's settlement expansion in the West Bank and violence by settlers, saying these actions are undermining the prospects of the "two-state solution." The 12 countries said they planned to restrict trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
On the same day, foreign ministers from Britain, France, Canada and nine other countries issued a joint statement announcing plans to restrict trade in goods linked to Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said that in response to Britain's planned ban on imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Israel will implement a series of countermeasures, including closing the British Consulate in Jerusalem.