British consulate in Jerusalem to become 'UK Mission, Jerusalem' after Israel announces closure of facility
- 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.
57 Articles
57 Articles
UK pulls staff from Jerusalem as Israel retaliates over settlement ban
THE UK has withdrawn staff and their families from its consulate in East Jerusalem after Israel said it would be closed in retaliation for the Government’s trade ban with illegal West Bank settlements.
El Confidencial
La RazónThe measure forces the exit of the consul general and 19 other diplomats, while seven staff members will continue to perform limited tasks
Israel Closes British Consulate in Jerusalem Over Miliband's Sanctions
Israel has closed Britain’s consulate in Jerusalem in response to recent sanctions imposed by Ed Miliband. Hotting up… Miliband responded in a statement this morning: “The UK Government reiterates its long-standing view that East Jerusalem is occupied territory. Following discussions with the Government of Israel, our Consulate General building will not be closing, and will…
British consulate standoff ends; building to operate as 'UK Mission, Jerusalem'
Israel and Britain reached a compromise to end their diplomatic rift as the British consulate in Jerusalem closed, with a reduced diplomatic team remaining and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar declaring the era of Israeli containment over. The post British consulate standoff ends; building to operate as 'UK Mission, Jerusalem' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.
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