Britain has kept its East Jerusalem diplomatic compound open as a smaller UK Mission after Israel ordered the consulate closed over sanctions on settlements…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Britain has kept its diplomatic presence in occupied East Jerusalem open under a new name after Israel’s deadline for closing the British consulate expired, in a last-minute arrangement that reduces the size of the mission but avoids a wider diplomatic confrontation.
The British government said on Thursday that the consulate building would not close and would instead operate as the UK Mission, Jerusalem.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain did not accept that Israel had the legal right to close the consulate, which has served the UK in Jerusalem for nearly 200 years.
“Following discussions with the Government of Israel, our Consulate General building will not be closing, and will be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem from today,” Miliband said.
He said the new mission would remain “independent, operational” and continue providing vital services and working with the Palestinian people.
Israel, however, described the development differently, saying the British consulate had ceased its operations and that most of its diplomatic staff would leave.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said 20 diplomats, including the consul general, would end their duties and leave Israel. Seven diplomats would remain in the building as a smaller task force with a “very limited scope of activity”.
Saar said the British government-owned building would remain in place but insisted that the consulate itself was closing its operations.
The differing descriptions reflect the unresolved dispute between the two governments over Britain’s diplomatic presence in East Jerusalem.
Miliband said Britain had temporarily withdrawn a number of staff and their families because it had not received the necessary assurances over the security and protection of its personnel and premises.
He added that Britain intended to rebuild its presence in the coming months and would not take reciprocal action against Israel while discussions continued.
The agreement has prevented an immediate escalation in a dispute that had raised the possibility of Britain taking reciprocal measures against Israeli diplomats in London.
Dispute over West Bank settlements
The confrontation began after Britain announced sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank on 8 September, alongside a group of other countries, citing concerns over settlement expansion and its impact on the prospects for a two-state solution.
Israel subsequently ordered the British consulate in Jerusalem to close within 30 days.
The UK rejected Israel’s authority to shut the mission, maintaining its longstanding position that East Jerusalem is occupied territory. The Foreign Office says Britain’s position on the status of Jerusalem has remained unchanged for decades and that it does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem.
The consulate has a separate role from the British embassy in Tel Aviv. It represents the UK in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza and handles political, commercial, security and economic relations with Palestinians, as well as consular services for British nationals.
The British presence in Jerusalem dates back nearly two centuries, making the dispute particularly significant for London’s diplomatic engagement with Palestinians.
Despite the reduction in staffing, Britain says the new mission will continue its work in support of a two-state solution.
Miliband said the UK remained committed to the measures announced in September and to efforts aimed at achieving peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
