Britain threatens to expel 30 Israeli diplomats

Occupied Jerusalem – London – Agencies: Four sources revealed that Britain is likely to expel approximately 30 Israeli diplomats if Israel proceeds with its decision to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem, amid a dispute over sanctions targeting Israeli settlements. Israel had ordered Britain on September 8 to close the consulate in East Jerusalem within 30 days and withdraw its diplomats from the city, following Britain’s announcement that it would impose a ban on trade in goods made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The sources noted that the deadline set by Britain for closing the consulate expires on Thursday, affecting around 30 British diplomats working there, along with their family members. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that if the consulate is closed, Britain is likely to retaliate by expelling a similar number of Israeli diplomats from the Israeli embassy in the United Kingdom. Britain’s announcement of sanctions and Israel’s response have marked a new deterioration in relations between the two countries, which previously enjoyed close ties. Britain has repeatedly criticized Israel for its actions in the war on Gaza and for attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians. The Israeli government has accused the ruling British Labour Party of hostility toward Israel. The British consulate, located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem, manages the country’s relations with Palestinians in the city, as well as in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

On another front, Ma’ariv newspaper revealed that a U.S. report warned that Israel is undergoing several crises that have brought it to the brink of “civil war or political collapse.” The newspaper noted that “there is a crisis concerning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself, who is struggling to maintain power in Israel.” The Israeli newspaper published a report under the headline “Secret CIA Report Reveals Alarming Warning: Israel on the Brink of Civil War and Political Collapse.” The U.S. report warned that “Israel is experiencing a combination of political polarization, economic pressures, and tensions surrounding the mandatory conscription crisis, exposing Israel to the risk of civil war or political collapse.” Ma’ariv added that the U.S. report was published on the website “Drop Site News,” and the CIA warned that “years of war in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran have contributed to deepening political, economic, and social fissures within Israel.”