Israel has closed the British Consulate in East Jerusalem, and most of its diplomats will be leaving, in response to British sanctions on settlements in the occupied West Bank. The move was announced by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who stated that Israel had implemented the measures as a response to the British sanctions. The consulate's sign has been removed, but the British flag was still visible outside the building.
According to Sa'ar, 20 diplomats, including the consul general, will be leaving Israel, while a limited team of seven diplomats will remain in the building with a very narrow scope of work. The building itself is owned by the British government, and Israel has allowed the limited team to continue working there. Sa'ar stated that the agreement with the UK meant that no further action would be taken against Israel.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that the UK had temporarily withdrawn some staff for security reasons, but emphasized that the mission would continue to work with the Palestinian people. Miliband stated that the UK did not accept Israel's right to close the consulate, reiterating London's position that East Jerusalem is occupied territory.
The British consulate in Jerusalem, established in 1838, manages British relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. It operates separately from the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, which is the main diplomatic mission to Israel. The closure comes after Israel announced in September that it would shut the consulate in response to British sanctions on Israeli settlements.
The British sanctions, introduced in September, targeted Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. Israel had given the UK 30 days to respond before closing the consulate. There were reports that the UK had threatened to expel Israeli diplomats from London, potentially further straining bilateral relations.
Despite the closure, Miliband stated that the building would not be shut and would from Thursday be known as the "UK Mission to Jerusalem". However, he acknowledged that the talks had not led to an agreement on the necessary guarantees for the security and protection of UK staff and premises.
The UK-Israel relationship has been strained in recent times, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticizing Britain's stance on Israeli settlements. The closure of the consulate marks a significant development in the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
Key points
- Israel closes British consulate in Jerusalem in response to British sanctions on West Bank settlements
- 20 diplomats, including the consul general, to leave Israel, while a limited team of seven to remain
- UK-Israel relationship strained, with potential for further deterioration
