UK security adviser visited Israel to try to stop East Jerusalem consulate closure

Jonathan Powell, Britain's national security adviser, travelled to Israel last week to try to negotiate over the planned closure of the UK consulate in Jerusalem, according to three officials cited by the New York Times. The BBC reported that Powell made an undisclosed visit to Israel for talks and seemingly left without reaching an agreement. The UK government is making what the BBC described as a last-ditch attempt to persuade Israel not to close the consulate later this week.

Israel said in September that it would shut the mission, which is separate from the UK embassy based in Tel Aviv, in retaliation for the UK announcing sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to the BBC. The BBC reported that the British sanctions will ban settlement goods and act against companies and individuals providing services for settlement expansion. The Israeli government said it would close the mission within 30 days of the UK sanctions announcement, meaning it will close on Thursday unless a deal is reached, the BBC reported.

The consulate, first established in 1838, handles UK relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem as well as in the West Bank and Gaza, according to the BBC. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has previously said the UK does not want the consulate to close, saying it "would damage the very important work that we are doing, helping people in those communities".

The Foreign Office said it would not comment on "speculation and live discussions" that the UK could expel Israeli diplomats in response, the BBC reported. According to Israeli media, the UK is threatening to expel up to 27 Israeli diplomats if the closure goes ahead, the BBC reported. The BBC reported that such tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats are more common between adversaries than allies, and that France and Canada joined the UK in the initial sanctions but Israel has not taken action against them.

Matthew Gould, a former British ambassador to Israel, told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that any UK decision to expel Israeli diplomats would inflict "grievous damage" on the relationship between the two countries. He said areas that could be affected include defence, security and technology. Gould said governments "have a choice", that expelling Israeli diplomats would be a "gift to the Israeli right", and that it would help Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu win re-election.

Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs committee, said the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem, which she described as occupied Palestinian territory, is "not in Israel's prerogative". She called it "yet another attempt by this far-right Israeli government to block a two-state solution".