Israel Closes UK Consulate in East Jerusalem, Diplomats Depart

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced on Thursday that the British consulate in Jerusalem ended its functions, with approximately 20 British diplomats, including the consul general, ending their missions and leaving Israel.

Sa'ar stated that Israel implemented its order to shut the consulate, which was a retaliatory measure following the British government's imposition of sanctions on Israel on September 8. The UK, however, announced it is rebranding its consulate general building in East Jerusalem as a "UK Mission, Jerusalem," insisting it will remain open and continue to deliver vital services and work with the Palestinian people.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said some staff had been temporarily withdrawn for security reasons. Miliband stated the UK does not accept Israel's legal right to close the consulate, which has operated for nearly 200 years, and reiterates its view that East Jerusalem is occupied Palestinian territory. Under an agreement reached between the two governments, Israel authorized the UK to operate a task force of only seven diplomats in the mission building with a very limited scope of activity.

The diplomatic emblem and a plaque adorning the consulate's facade were removed on Thursday. The dispute began in September when London announced sanctions, along with 11 other Western nations, targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including a ban on goods produced in settlements and sanctions against companies facilitating settlement expansion. Miliband described these measures as the beginning of a new approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israel's retaliatory measures also included removing British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat, terminating British training activities for Palestinian Authority security forces in the West Bank, and barring 12 British elected officials and other citizens from entering Israel. Sa'ar accused Britain of freezing military dialogue and security cooperation with Israel, a claim the British government did not directly address.

The UK had previously threatened to expel a parallel number of Israeli diplomats from London but backed away from this, arguing it would be unwise during the Israeli election campaign.