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JERUSALEM: Workers removed signs and plaques at the British consulate in East Jerusalem overnight after Israel ordered it shut by \u200bThursday over London\u2019s plans to impose sanctions on settlements in the West Bank, further damaging strained \u200cties between allies.<\/strong><\/p>\n Reuters journalists saw workers in the consulate remove a plaque reading \u201cBritish Consulate General\u201d and another sign for its consular section. The British flag was still flying over the building. There was no immediate comment from the consulate.<\/p>\n Israel \u200blast month ordered Britain to close the consulate within 30 days and remove its diplomats from \u200bthe city, after Britain announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West \u2060Bank, including a trade ban on goods made there.<\/p>\n The United Nations and most countries consider the \u200bsettlements to be illegal under international law. Israel disputes this.<\/p>\n Israel has been adamant the consulate will close even \u200bas Britain sought to keep it open, including sending the country\u2019s top national security adviser to Israel last week for talks.<\/p>\n Britain\u2019s presence in the city dates back almost 200 years, long before the State of Israel was established in 1948. \u200bThe closure order does not affect Britain\u2019s embassy in Tel Aviv, which handles diplomatic relations with \u200bIsrael\u2019s government.<\/p>\n The consulate, in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, handles Britain\u2019s relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, as well \u200cas \u2060in the West Bank and Gaza. It also provides consular services to Palestinians.<\/p>\n Britain\u2019s Foreign Office on Wednesday declined to comment when asked whether the consulate was still operating or any British diplomats working there had returned to the UK.<\/p>\n Sources have said the order to close the consulate affects around 30 British \u200bdiplomats along with their family \u200bmembers.<\/p>\n Britain is considering expelling \u2060Israeli diplomats from Israel\u2019s embassy in the United Kingdom in response to any closure of the consulate, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing sources.<\/p>\n