"... diplomatic expulsions are an old game with rules well understood by both sides ..."

ECONOMIST/ here

".... Britain’s is the first Western government to do more than simply express its anger with Israel. But it might not be the last. Israeli observers fear that Ireland and Australia, emboldened by the British lead, might also take punitive action of some sort.

Britain’s relations with Israel have become a touch chillier of late. Israel feels resentful towards Britain over its failure to legislate against the possibility that visiting Israeli officials could be arrested on war-crimes charges. Israeli officials say undertakings given by Gordon Brown, the prime minister, that such laws would be hurried through have been shelved, at least until after the election, widely expected on May 6th. One source called the British government’s action “measured, calculated and not entirely unexpected,” and said that the foreign secretary had felt personally affronted at Israel’s alleged misuse of British passports.

But relations are unlikely to be permanently or severely dented. With his spleen safely vented, Mr Miliband waxed conciliatory: “Britain has worked and will continue to work closely with Israel on a range of issues,” he said. Israel provides Britain with much needed intelligence on areas such as Iran which it will be reluctant to forfeit. Besides, diplomatic expulsions are an old game with rules well understood by both sides. Israel may throw out a British diplomat but the row is unlikely to go much further. And the ejected Mossad man—or his replacement—may well be back at his post within a few months.