Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that the UK will refrain from reciprocal expulsions of Israeli officials from London as long as dialogue remains credible. The rift began after the UK banned imports from illegal West Bank settlements and targeted British finance and construction services linked to them. Tensions peaked when Miliband described Israeli actions as "ethnic cleansing" and a "stain on the conscience of the world," leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call the Andy Burnham government a "rogue state." London had previously threatened to expel 27 Israeli diplomats if the consulate were closed.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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UK Avoids Expelling 27 Israeli Diplomats in Jerusalem Consulate Deal
Geopolitics13 days ago
A skeleton crew of British officials will remain at the diplomatic mission in East Jerusalem following an agreement on Thursday to end a diplomatic standoff. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced that the consulate has ceased its standard operations, with the Consul General and 20 diplomats departing the country. Under the new understanding, the UK will maintain a 7 member task force in the building it owns, though the team will operate with a significantly reduced scope of activity.
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