UK to start expelling diplomats from Israel

Nury Vittachi

 

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UK LEADERS WARNED Israel's leader Benjamin Netanyahu that they will expel one Israeli diplomat for every British diplomat Israel forces to leave Jerusalem this week, it was reported yesterday by Ynet, an Israeli newspaper.

Israel has also said it will revoke the credentials of Dutch diplomats’ mission to Palestine.

Other countries, including Canada, France, and many European nations, are watching anxiously, as their positions on Israel's huge encroachment on the West Bank echo that of the UK and the Netherlands.

The London-Tel Aviv diplomatic row threatens to have enormous implications, removing key elements of the west’s support for Israel, and changing the status quo in East Jerusalem.

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COUNTRIES BANNING GOODS

What happened: The UK and other nations last month said they would ban Israeli goods made in illegally occupied West Bank areas. Participants include Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, ⁠Poland, Portugal, Spain, ⁠and Sweden.

The UK, normally a staunch backer of Israel, has also recently made further small concessions to the British public, which has long wanted their country to halt support.

In retaliation, Israel threatened to close the UK Consulate in East Jerusalem this week.

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RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED NATIONS

But East Jerusalem is recognised by the United Nations (and most countries) as being occupied Palestinian territory—so such an Israeli action would destroy the status quo, establishing Israel as being in charge of that Palestinian area, diplomats told the Guardian newspaper.

The UK Foreign Office has not officially confirmed details of the argument—but did not deny the reports. (The UK has two diplomatic missions in Israel/ Palestine, an embassy in Israeli territory and a consulate in the Palestinian part of Jerusalem.)

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GROWING RIFT

The fracture shows a growing rift between Israel and its most enthusiastic supporters in the west.

Even in the US, the majority of Democratic Party members no longer support Israel.

But other Washington-allied governments remain fiercely loyal to Israel and the US administration, including those in Taiwan and Australia.

Taiwan’s unpopular DPP government is not just cheering the illegal encroachment on the West Bank, but is financing a building there.