UK says Jerusalem post will remain open as mission after Israeli closure deadline
Britain says vital services will continue. Israel says the consulate has ended its activities and only seven diplomats will remain.
Britain said on October 8 that its diplomatic building in East Jerusalem would remain open as the UK Mission, Jerusalem, following discussions with Israel as an Israeli closure deadline expired.
In a statement published by the UK government, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the mission remained independent and operational and would continue vital services and work with Palestinians. He said Britain had temporarily withdrawn some staff and families for their safety and would seek to rebuild its presence in the coming months.
Israel described the changes differently. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the consulate had ended its activities, with 20 diplomats leaving and seven remaining with restricted activities, according to Associated Press reporting. Those figures describe Israel’s account of the staffing arrangements.
Workers removed signs identifying the compound as the British consulate as the deadline expired, Reuters reported. Israel had ordered the post to close within 30 days on September 8 after Britain announced measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including a ban on settlement goods.
The compound is in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, and has handled Britain’s relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, according to Reuters.
Miliband said Britain did not accept Israel’s legal authority to close the consulate, reiterating the UK’s position that East Jerusalem is occupied territory. He said Britain would refrain from reciprocal action while discussions continued and remained credible.
The UK statement says vital services will continue, but does not specify the full range of services available under the new arrangements.
This story was drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed below and reviewed by a human editor before publication.
