Israel shuts British consulate in Jerusalem as 30-day deadline expires
Israel has shut the British consulate in Jerusalem after a 30-day deadline expired on Thursday, in the sharpest diplomatic rupture between the two countries in years. The British consulate Jerusalem mission, operating in the city since about 1839, ended its functions on October 8 under an Israeli order issued in retaliation for British sanctions on West Bank settlements.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said 20 diplomats, including the consul general, would leave the city. Only seven diplomats may remain, he said, in what he described as a “very limited” capacity. Overnight, workers removed the plaques reading “British Consulate General” from the building in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, though the British flag was still flying over the compound in the morning, Reuters reported.
A compromise keeps the building open as ‘UK Mission’
Britain said the facility would continue operating on a smaller scale under a new name: the “UK Mission, Jerusalem”. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the building would remain open and deliver “vital services”, adding that London does not accept that Israel has the legal right to close it.
The mission handles Britain’s relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and provides consular services to Palestinians. Most countries keep their embassies to Israel in Tel Aviv; the Jerusalem consulate has long been the separate channel for Palestinian affairs, a legacy of the British Mandate period.
British consulate Jerusalem closure: why Israel ordered it
The dispute is about sanctions. On September 8, Israel ordered Britain to close the consulate within 30 days after London announced it would impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including a ban on trade in settlement-made goods. Saar accused London of interfering in Israel’s general election, due on October 27.
Britain says the sanctions respond to settlement expansion and rising settler attacks on Palestinians, which it argues undermine the possibility of a two-state solution. The measures are due to take effect next year. France and Canada announced similar sanctions, but Israel has taken no action against their missions.
The fallout may not end here. Reuters reported earlier in the week, citing sources, that Britain was considering expelling a similar number of Israeli diplomats from London in retaliation. Britain’s national security adviser quietly visited Israel last week in an attempt to head off the closure, but the talks produced no agreement.
FAQ
Why did Israel close the British consulate in Jerusalem?
Israel ordered the closure in retaliation for British sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including a trade ban on settlement goods. The 30-day deadline Israel set on September 8 expired on October 8.
What happens to the consulate building now?
It will reopen on a smaller scale as the “UK Mission, Jerusalem”, still serving Palestinians. Twenty diplomats, including the consul general, must leave; seven may stay in limited roles.
Could Britain retaliate?
Reuters reported, citing sources, that Britain was considering expelling Israeli diplomats from London in response, though London has not confirmed any decision.
