UK national security adviser quietly visited Israel in failed bid to keep Jerusalem consulate open
Three sources told Reuters that UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell visited Israel last week to prevent closure of Britain's East Jerusalem consulate but reached no deal. The Jerusalem Post, citing two sources, adds that the UK has warned it would expel 27 Israeli diplomats if the consulate is closed.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Britain's National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, quietly visited Israel last week to try to prevent the closure of the UK consulate in East Jerusalem, according to three anonymous sources cited by Reuters. The Straits TimesRC “Britain's top national security official quietly visited Israel last week in a bid to prevent the closure of his country's consulate in East Jerusalem” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “Britain's top national security official quietly visited Israel last week in a bid to prevent the closure of the consulate, three sources told Reuters.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 2Powell held talks with Israeli officials but failed to reach an agreement to keep the consulate open; Britain's government has not disclosed the visit. The Straits TimesRC “held talks with Israeli officials but failed to reach an agreement to keep the consulate open” Read at The Straits Times ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “whose visit Britain's government has not disclosed” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1Israel ordered the closure on September 8, giving Britain 30 days to shut the consulate and remove its diplomats from the city, after Britain said it would ban goods made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The Straits TimesRC “Israel on September 8 ordered Britain to close the East Jerusalem consulate within 30 days and remove its diplomats from the city” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Right · 1France and Canada joined in the sanctions, and Israel has not taken action against them. The British sanctions are due to take effect next year. The Straits TimesRC “France and Canada joined in the sanctions. Israel has not taken action against them.”“The British sanctions are to take effect next year.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1Two of the Reuters sources said talks were still ongoing and that a deal to keep the consulate open was possible but unlikely before the Thursday deadline. A spokesperson for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the consulate would close on Thursday as announced, and a UK government spokesperson had no immediate comment. The Straits TimesRC “Two of the sources said talks were still ongoing, and while an agreement to keep it open was possible, it is unlikely one would be struck by the Thursday deadline.”“a spokesperson for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told Reuters that it would close on Thursday, as announced.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1The Jerusalem Post, citing two sources familiar with the matter, reported that senior British officials told Israel that if the consulate is closed and British diplomats expelled, the UK will expel 27 Israeli diplomats along with their families; it gave the expected closing date as October 8. This claim rests on anonymous sourcing and has not been confirmed by either government. The Jerusalem PostRC “the UK will respond by expelling 27 Israeli diplomats, along with their families, two sources familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post on Monday”“The consulate is expected to close on October 8” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1Britain said its sanctions responded to Israeli government-backed settlement expansion plans and rising settler attacks on Palestinians, which it said undermine the prospect of a two-state solution. Israel's government rejects Palestinian statehood, and Israel disputes that settlements are illegal under international law. The Straits TimesRC “Britain cited Israeli government-backed plans to expand settlements and rising settler attacks targeting Palestinians in the West Bank.”“Israel disputes this.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1Foreign Minister Saar has called the British decision "morally distorted" and accused Britain's Labour party of hostility and of interfering in Israel's general election on October 27. Reuters described the dispute as a new low in relations between the once steadfast allies. The Straits TimesRC “"morally distorted", accusing Britain's ruling Labour party of being hostile towards the country, and of interfering in Israel's upcoming general election on October 27.”“marked a new low in the relationship between the once steadfast allies” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1The consulate, in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, handles Britain's relations with Palestinians in the city, the West Bank and Gaza, and provides consular services to Palestinians. The Straits TimesRC “handles the country's relations with Palestinians in the city as well as in the West Bank and Gaza” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets lead with Reuters' report of the undisclosed Powell visit and its failure; the Jerusalem Post headline foregrounds the threatened expulsion of 27 Israeli diplomats.
- Emphasis
- Diplomatic escalation, the deadline, and Israeli officials' stance; the Straits Times adds context on settlements and strained relations.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The Jerusalem Post item is brief and omits the background on settlements, the sanctions rationale and Saar's criticism. No UK government response beyond 'no immediate comment'.
- Charged language
- “morally distorted”“new low”
- For example
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“marked a new low in the relationship between the once steadfast allies” — The Straits Times
“UK to expel 27 Israeli diplomats if east Jerusalem consulate closed, British diplomats expelled” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- Powell quietly visited Israel last week, per three anonymous sources cited by Reuters.
- He held talks with Israeli officials but no agreement to keep the consulate open was reached.
- The UK government has not disclosed the visit.
- Israel ordered the consulate closed after Britain announced sanctions on settlements.
Where accounts differ
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Closing date and outlook
- Right
- Straits Times (Reuters): the 30-day deadline runs out Thursday; talks ongoing, deal possible but unlikely by then. Jerusalem Post: consulate expected to close on October 8.
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UK retaliation
- Right
- Only the Jerusalem Post reports, via two anonymous sources, a UK threat to expel 27 Israeli diplomats; the Reuters text does not mention it.
Jonathan Powell person
Reported as having held talks in Israel to keep the consulate open, without success; the visit was not publicly disclosed.
“held talks with Israeli officials but failed to reach an agreement to keep the consulate open” — The Straits Times
Israel place
Foreign Minister Saar's spokesperson said the consulate would close on Thursday as announced; Saar called Britain's decision 'morally distorted'.
“a spokesperson for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told Reuters that it would close on Thursday, as announced.” — The Straits Times
United Kingdom place
Government had no immediate comment; it said earlier its sanctions respond to settlement expansion and settler attacks undermining a two-state solution.
“A UK government spokesperson had no immediate comment.” — The Straits Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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The Straits TimesRC · · via Reuters
UK security adviser visited Israel in bid to keep Jerusalem consulate open, sources say
Neutral Reuters wire copy carried by the Straits Times: sourced account of the failed diplomatic effort with background on strained UK-Israel ties.
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UK to expel 27 Israeli diplomats if east Jerusalem consulate closed, British diplomats expelled
Neutral Short Jerusalem Post item leading on the reported UK threat to expel 27 Israeli diplomats, then relaying the Reuters report on Powell's visit.
- 5 Oct 16:33 First The Straits TimesRC UK security adviser visited Israel in bid to keep Jerusalem consulate open, sources say via Reuters
- 5 Oct 17:22 +48m The Jerusalem PostRC UK to expel 27 Israeli diplomats if east Jerusalem consulate closed, British diplomats expelled
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.