The United Kingdom has threatened to expel 27 Israeli diplomats if Israel proceeds with plans to close the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem, according to unverified Israeli media reports. Israel ordered the consulate's closure by October 8 in retaliation for Britain's decision to sanction illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Britain's National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, visited Israel last week in an attempt to reverse the closure, but talks did not produce an agreement.