UK says East Jerusalem consulate building to remain open as a mission
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the British consulate building in occupied East Jerusalem will remain open and be rebranded as the "UK Mission, Jerusalem," after talks with Israel. Israel had ordered the consulate to close in retaliation for UK sanctions on settlements, but authorised a limited presence at the site while 20 British diplomats end their assignments.
Why It Matters
The move preserves a channel for the UK to deliver services to Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza amid a diplomatic dispute tied to UK sanctions on Israeli settlements. It also reflects tension between two close security and intelligence partners over settlement policy and diplomatic representation in occupied territory.
Key Facts
- UK statement: Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the consulate building "will not be closing" and will be known as the "UK Mission, Jerusalem."
- Israeli authorisation: Israel authorised the UK to operate from the building in a limited scope with seven diplomats, according to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.
- Staff reductions: Israel said 20 British diplomats, including the consul general, were ending their assignments and would leave Israel.
- Plaque removal: Journalists saw workers remove a plaque reading "British Consulate General" and a consular section sign; the UK flag remained flying.
- Triggering action: Israel's closure order was issued after the UK announced sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced that the building long used as the UK consulate in occupied East Jerusalem will remain operational and be redesignated as the "UK Mission, Jerusalem" following talks with Israeli officials. He said the mission will continue to provide consular services and maintain ties with the Palestinian population in Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Gaza. Miliband also rejected Israel's claim to a legal right to close the consulate.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel had authorised a limited UK presence at the site, permitting seven diplomats to remain, while about 20 diplomats, including the British consul general, will end their assignments and depart. Journalists from Reuters reported workers removing a plaque identifying the building as the "British Consulate General," though the UK flag was still flying over the premises.
The dispute began after the UK moved to impose sanctions on goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank; Israel ordered the consulate's closure in response. Saar framed his measures on social media as part of a principle that no action should be taken against Israel without appropriate retaliatory steps. The United Nations and most countries consider the settlements illegal under international law; Israel disputes that position.
Miliband said the UK had already withdrawn some staff and family members in recent weeks and now intends to rebuild its presence in Jerusalem. He added the UK would not take immediate reciprocal diplomatic action against Israel while the two sides continue talks. The consulate is located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood and historically manages the UK's relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza; the closure order does not affect the UK's embassy in Tel Aviv.
Despite the current diplomatic strain, the UK and Israel retain close economic, security and intelligence ties. The UK's presence in Jerusalem predates the establishment of the state of Israel by almost 200 years, a historical point Miliband noted in the context of ongoing negotiations over the mission's status.
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