British consulate in Jerusalem to become 'UK Mission, Jerusalem' after Israel announces closure of facility
Britain said the building will stay open as the UK Mission, with 7 diplomats remaining after talks with Israel.
- On Thursday, workers removed the "British Consulate General" plaque from the consulate in East Jerusalem, marking the 30-day closure deadline ordered by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.
- Israel ordered the closure after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced sanctions targeting West Bank settlement goods, escalating tensions deteriorated over three years as Britain criticized Gaza actions and settler violence.
- Under compromise, seven diplomats will operate as "UK Mission" in Sheikh Jarrah without consular status, while 20 of the consulate's 27 staff members depart following intense British pressure and a senior official's visit last week.
- About 30 British diplomats and families are affected by the closure; Britain is considering expelling 27 Israeli diplomats in response, though the closure does not impact Britain's embassy in Tel Aviv.
- Britain's presence in East Jerusalem spans nearly 200 years, handling Palestinian relations across the West Bank and Gaza; despite current strains, the UK and Israel remain close security partners, making mutual diplomat expulsions highly unusual.
92 Articles
92 Articles
British diplomats to remain at East Jerusalem consulate to offer vital services
JERUSALEM — The United Kingdom said on Thursday its nearly 200-year-old consulate in occupied EastJerusalem would remain operating at a smaller scale after Israel ordered it shut in a dispute over British sanctions on Jewish settlements.Israel last month issued a 30-day deadline for Britain to close the consulate after London announced sanctions targeting settlements in the occupied West Bank, a dispute that has strained relations between the …
Israel drastically reduces British diplomatic presence in Jerusalem
The move comes after Israel ordered the closure of the consulate in September as retaliation after London led Western sanctions over violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Thursday's move to downsize the UK presence had followed a dialogue with the British government in order to avoid an escalation of tensions between the two countries. "As I announced, the British …
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