Britain’s National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell quietly visited Israel last week in a last-ditch bid to stop the closure of the UK consulate in East Jerusalem, but the talks failed to produce an agreement, Reuters reported on October 5, citing three sources.

Israel ordered the consulate shut within 30 days on September 8, after London announced sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including a ban on settlement goods. The deadline runs out on Thursday, October 8.

Britain has warned it will expel 27 Israeli diplomats from London if the closure goes ahead – one for each British diplomat affected. A spokesperson for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the consulate would close on Thursday as announced.

The row marks a sharp fall in ties between the two long-time allies. France and Canada joined Britain’s sanctions, but Israel has not acted against them. Sources say talks are continuing, though a deal before Thursday looks unlikely.