Israel expels British military team from West Bank within seven days
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Israel has ordered a British military team to leave the West Bank within seven days. The expulsion comes as Britain planned to quadruple the group monitoring settler violence.
Key Facts
- Israel gave the British Support Team (BST) seven days to leave the West Bank.
- The BST consists of about 10 military personnel based in Ramallah.
- Britain planned to quadruple the BST in the coming weeks.
- The order also affects a small British military and diplomatic contingent helping maintain the Gaza ceasefire from Kiryat Gat.
- Israeli operatives intercepted the group's communications, according to officials.
Expulsion Order
Tel Aviv demanded that British military personnel leave the West Bank, giving them seven days to depart. The decision came as Britain was preparing to quadruple the group monitoring violence by Israeli settlers. The order also affects a small British military and diplomatic contingent helping maintain the Gaza ceasefire and working at an international headquarters in Kiryat Gat.
British Support Team
The British Support Team (BST), consisting of about 10 military personnel based in Ramallah, was set to quadruple in the coming weeks. The team's primary task is to advise and assist in training Palestinian Authority security forces responsible for order in PA-controlled parts of the West Bank. In recent years, the personnel also served as Western eyes and ears on the West Bank, sending detailed reports on settler violence to London and Washington through the US Security Coordinator's office.
Israeli Surveillance
Sources told The Telegraph that Israel monitored the British personnel and sought a pretext for their expulsion. According to officials, Israeli operatives intercepted the group's communications.
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