特拉维夫，10月5日——据三位消息人士称，英国国家安全最高官员上周秘密访问了以色列，试图阻止英国驻东耶路撒冷领事馆的关闭。此前，在伦敦宣布对以色列定居点实施制裁后，以色列下令关闭该领事馆。
TEL AVIV, Oct 5 - Britain's top national security official quietly visited Israel last week in a bid to prevent the closure of his country's consulate in East Jerusalem which was ordered by Israel after London announced sanctions on Israeli settlements, three sources said.
消息人士称，国家安全顾问乔纳森·鲍威尔此次访问并未被英国政府公开。他与以色列官员举行了会谈，但未能就维持领事馆开放达成协议。这些消息人士要求匿名。
National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, whose visit has not been disclosed by Britain's government, held talks with Israeli officials but failed to reach an agreement to keep the consulate open, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
9月8日，在英国宣布禁止进口来自被占领西岸地区以色列定居点的商品后，以色列下令英国在30天内关闭位于东耶路撒冷的领事馆，并将其外交官撤离该市。
Israel on September 8 ordered Britain to close the East Jerusalem consulate within 30 days and remove its diplomats from the city, after Britain said it would ban goods made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
法国和加拿大也加入了这一制裁行列，但以色列尚未对两国采取任何行动。
France and Canada joined in the sanctions.
以色列与英国关系日益紧张。这一事件凸显了以色列长期盟友对其在被占领西岸地区建设定居点问题的日益不满。世界多数国家认为这些定居点违反了国际法，但以色列对此予以否认。
Israel has not taken action against them. ISRAEL-UK RELATIONS INCREASINGLY STRAINED The incident highlighted growing frustration among Israel's longtime allies over its settlements in the occupied West Bank, viewed by much of the world as illegal under international law. Israel disputes this.
英国关闭领事馆的30天期限将于周四到期。其中两位消息人士表示，相关谈判仍在继续。虽然有可能达成维持领事馆开放的协议，但在周四的截止日期前达成协议的可能性不大。
The 30-day deadline for Britain to close the consulate runs out on Thursday. Two of the sources said talks were still ongoing, and while an agreement to keep it open was possible, it is unlikely one would be struck by the Thursday deadline.
当被问及鲍威尔的访问以及与伦敦就领事馆问题进行的会谈时，以色列外交部长吉德翁·萨阿尔的发言人告诉路透社，领事馆将按原计划于周四关闭。英国政府发言人尚未立即发表评论。
Asked about Powell's visit and talks with London over the consulate, a spokesperson for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told Reuters that it would close on Thursday, as announced. A UK government spokesperson had no immediate comment.
在宣布制裁时，英国表示，以色列的行为正在破坏“两国方案”的可能性——即巴勒斯坦国与以色列和平共存的设想。本雅明·内塔尼亚胡政府公开反对建立巴勒斯坦国。
In announcing the sanctions, Britain said that Israel's actions were undermining the possibility of a two-state solution — the idea of a Palestinian state co-existing peacefully alongside Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government openly rejects the idea of Palestinian statehood.
英国方面援引了以色列政府支持扩建定居点的计划，以及约旦河西岸针对巴勒斯坦人的定居者袭击事件不断上升的情况。英国的制裁措施将于明年生效。
Britain cited Israeli government-backed plans to expand settlements and rising settler attacks targeting Palestinians in the West Bank. The British sanctions are to take effect next year.
位于东耶路撒冷谢赫贾拉区的英国领事馆负责处理英国与该市以及约旦河西岸和加沙地带巴勒斯坦人的关系，同时也为巴勒斯坦人提供领事服务。
The British consulate, in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, handles the country's relations with Palestinians in the city as well as in the West Bank and Gaza. It also provides consular services to Palestinians.
以色列外交部长称，英国决定实施制裁是“道德上扭曲的”，并指责英国执政的工党对以色列持敌对态度，还干涉了以色列即将于10月27日举行的全国大选。
Israel's foreign minister has said that Britain's decision to impose sanctions was "morally distorted", accusing Britain's ruling Labour party of being hostile towards the country, and of interfering in Israel's upcoming general election on October 27.
英国的制裁声明以及以色列的回应，标志着这两个曾经坚定的盟友之间的关系降至新低点。英国此前多次批评以色列在加沙战争中的行动，以及以色列定居者对巴勒斯坦人的袭击。
The British sanctions announcement, and Israel's response, marked a new low in the relationship between the once steadfast allies. Britain has repeatedly criticised Israel over its actions in the war in Gaza and over Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians.