Israel-UK relations hit new low over settlements, Gaza: What to know
Despite Britain’s ban on goods from Israeli settlements and Israel’s closure of the British Consulate in East Jerusalem, both countries are seeking to keep communication channels open.
The threat of diplomatic expulsions is deepening tensions between Israel and the United Kingdom, even as both governments seek to preserve dialogue and contain the fallout, diplomatic sources told Al-Monitor.
Israel’s Oct. 8 decision to end the British Consulate General’s operations in East Jerusalem — in retaliation for London’s ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank — has pushed bilateral ties to a new low. Yet a last-minute agreement, announced Thursday, will allow seven British diplomats to remain in the building, which has been renamed the UK Mission, Jerusalem, preserving a diplomatic foothold amid the escalating dispute.
Israel has long viewed the UK as a key ally, seeking to deepen diplomatic, economic and security ties following Brexit. This partnership advanced through a 2019 trade agreement and a 2021 strategic partnership memorandum covering cyber, tech and defense cooperation.
Following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, then-UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Israel on Oct. 19 to express solidarity and affirm its right to self-defense under international law.
