Israel closes UK consulate in East Jerusalem over sanctions

Summarised from 10 outlets · 12 reports · Updated 8 Oct, 08:31 · Archive

Israel has closed the British consulate in East Jerusalem in retaliation for UK sanctions on illegal West Bank settlements.

Israel has confirmed it closed the British consulate in East Jerusalem on Thursday, 30 days after ordering the shutdown in retaliation for UK sanctions. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the consulate's operations have ended and its signage has been removed, with around 20 diplomats and the Consul General departing Israel. However, he confirmed that seven diplomats would be allowed to remain in the building to operate with 'a very limited scope of activity'.

The closure follows the UK's decision in early September to ban trade in goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and impose sanctions on individuals and firms providing services to settlers. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced these measures, stating that the Israeli government had turned a blind eye to what he described as 'ethnic cleansing' of Palestinians and that planned E1 development would render a two-state solution 'unviable'.

The consulate, first established in 1838 before the state of Israel was created in 1948, is distinct from the UK embassy in Tel Aviv and handles relations with Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, including providing consular services. Its closure removes the building's diplomatic status and technically bars its staff from legal operations there.

The UK made last-ditch attempts to keep the consulate open, including sending the country's top national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, to Israel for talks last week. However, Israeli Foreign Minister Saar insisted his country would hold firm. According to unverified Israeli media reports, the UK had threatened to expel up to 27 Israeli diplomats if the closure proceeded, though the Foreign Office declined to comment on this speculation.

Despite Israel's closure order, the UK contests the legality of the action. Miliband said the building 'will not be closing' and will instead operate as a 'UK Mission, Jerusalem' from Thursday onwards. He stated that staff had been temporarily withdrawn for security reasons but the mission would 'work with the Palestinian people'. The British flag remained flying over the building as the deadline passed.

Israeli officials stated they did not want the situation to reach this point, with Saar saying Labour's actions forced the closure. Both Israel and the United States have criticised the UK's sanctions stance. Miliband confirmed that Britain would not take reciprocal action against Israel while the two sides engage in talks. The United Nations and most countries consider Israeli settlements illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this characterisation.

How it is being reported

• Israel says British consulate in East Jerusalem 'ceasing operations'British Foreign Minister Ed Miliband stressed that the consulate would not be closing and that it would instead become the UK Mission, Jerusalem, from Thursday.Euronews · 8 Oct, 08:23
• UK withdraws staff and families from Jerusalem consulateForeign Secretary Ed Miliband said the building itself would not be shuttered and would instead be known as the UK Mission.Evening Standard · 8 Oct, 08:09
• British consulate in East Jerusalem will stay open as UK mission, says Ed MilibandForeign secretary says former consulate general will remain independent, operational and serving Palestinian people The foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, has said Britain’s consulate general building in East Jerusalem will not be closing but will be known as a UK mission, remaining independent, operational and serving Palestinian people. Israel had ordered the British consulate in East Jerusalem to close on Thursday over the UK’s plans to impose sanctions on settlements in the West Bank. Continue reading...The Guardian · 8 Oct, 07:51
• Most UK diplomats to leave East Jerusalem consulate as Miliband says 'mission' to remainIsrael said in September it would act in response to UK sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.BBC News · 8 Oct, 07:47
• Israel to shut British consulate in East Jerusalem in retaliation over sanctionsThe closure decision in East Jerusalem comes after the UK's ban on trade with illegal West Bank settlements, with the sanctions first announced on September 8The Mirror · 8 Oct, 07:35
• Workers remove signage from British consulate in Jerusalem after Israel ordered it to close after Labour announced West Bank sanctionsWorkers in the consulate were seen removing a plaque reading 'British Consulate General' and another sign for its consular section.Daily Mail · 8 Oct, 07:30
• Israel to close British consulate in East Jerusalem today after sanctions on illegal West Bank settlementsIsrael’s foreign minister said 20 diplomats including the consul general would be leaving IsraelIndependent World · 8 Oct, 07:29
• British consulate in Jerusalem shuts with more than 20 diplomats forced to leave IsraelThe British consulate in Jerusalem has shut with more than 20 diplomats forced to leave Israel. The Israeli Government said to close down the embassy, which represents the Britain in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, within 30 days of the sanctions announcement on September 8. Unless a last-minute agreement is reached, the consulate will lose its diplomatic status later today, barring about 30 diplomats from legally operating from the building. Westminster was said to be making a last-ditch attempt this week to persuade Israel not to close the consulate, but Israeli foreign minister…GB News · 8 Oct, 07:24
• Israel confirms it is closing the British consulate in East JerusalemIsrael is closing the British consulate in East Jerusalem today in retaliation for the UK's ban on trade with illegal West Bank settlements, it has been confirmed.Sky News · 8 Oct, 06:56
• Signs removed from British consulate in Jerusalem as Israel's shutdown order expiresSigns and plaques at the British consulate in East Jerusalem were removed overnight as Israel's shutdown order expires. Israel ordered the premises shut by Thursday following Westminster's plans to impose sanctions on settlements in the West Bank, further damaging strained ties between the two countries. Eyewitnesses saw workers in the consulate remove a plaque reading "British Consulate General" and another sign for its consular section. The British flag was still flying over the building as dawn broke over Jerusalem. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say GB News has contacted the Foreign Office…GB News · 8 Oct, 06:32
• Signage at UK consulate in East Jerusalem removed as Israel’s deadline overThursday marks 30 days since Israel's foreign minister ordered the closure of the UK consulate in occupied East Jerusalem.Al Jazeera · 8 Oct, 06:06
• Israel’s deadline to close UK consulate in East Jerusalem nearsFormer British consul Vincent Fean says Israel is acting unlawfully by demanding the UK close its consulate.Al Jazeera · 7 Oct, 21:17

In this story: Israel · United Kingdom · Gideon Saar · Ed Miliband · East Jerusalem · West Bank · Palestinians

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