Israel's deadline for the UK to close its consulate in East Jerusalem is approaching this Thursday, a retaliatory move against new British sanctions targeting illegal Israeli settlements. Former British consul general Sir Vincent Fean stated that Israel's order is unlawful, as the consulate has every right to be in East Jerusalem, which is part of the state of Palestine. The UK is reportedly considering expelling 27 Israeli diplomats if the closure proceeds, following a breakdown in talks between British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell and Israeli officials. The diplomatic tensions escalated after UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband condemned Israel's actions in the occupied West Bank as "ethnic cleansing" and imposed an import ban on goods from Israeli settlements. Israel has also excluded the UK from the post-war Gaza coordination center and barred 11 British lawmakers from entering the country.