Israel Closes British Consulate in East Jerusalem
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced the closure of the British Consulate in East Jerusalem, with 20 diplomats departing and seven remaining as a reduced mission. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated the consulate would be renamed the "British Mission, Jerusalem" and continue its work. The move follows Israel's retaliatory measures against Britain for policies including recognizing a Palestinian state and imposing sanctions. Israel warned that actions against it would carry a price.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced the closure of the British Consulate in East Jerusalem.
- Twenty British diplomats will leave Israel, while seven will remain as a reduced mission.
- British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated the consulate would be renamed the "British Mission, Jerusalem" and continue its work.
- The decision follows Israeli retaliatory measures against Britain for its policies toward the Palestinian issue.
- Israel warned that countries acting against it would face consequences.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced on Thursday that the British Consulate in East Jerusalem has ceased operations. Sa'ar stated that the Consul General and 19 other diplomats will conclude their duties and leave Israel. The building, owned by the British government, will continue to house a reduced team of seven diplomats operating as a mission, though it will no longer function as a consulate.
Both countries have agreed to continue dialogue on issues important to each government. However, London presented the agreements differently. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband claimed that following discussions with the Israeli government, the consulate would not close but would be renamed the "British Mission, Jerusalem." Miliband asserted this mission would be independent, active, continue providing services, and maintain its work with Palestinians. He added that Britain had temporarily relocated some staff and their families for security and would work to "rebuild our presence" in the coming months, stating the UK would not take retaliatory measures as long as talks with Israel continued.
These understandings follow Sa'ar's announcement last month of four retaliatory measures against Britain. These included expelling British representatives from the international aid center in Gaza, halting British training of Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank, barring 12 British public officials and citizens from entering Israel, and ending the consulate's operations in East Jerusalem. Sa'ar explained these steps were a response to the Labour government's policies toward Israel, citing Britain's recognition of a Palestinian state, renewed funding for UNRWA, suspension of defense export licenses to Israel, sanctions on Israeli officials and entities, and the suspension of free trade agreement talks and military dialogue.
Sa'ar also mentioned restrictions on Israel's official participation in a defense equipment exhibition in Britain and the prevention of IDF officers from attending a course at the Royal College of Defence Studies. He identified the British government's decision to advance further sanctions against settlements in the West Bank and expand the suspension of defense export licenses to Israel as the latest escalation. "We believe in dialogue and will continue to believe in dialogue," Sa'ar said, but warned that "any country that acts against Israel must know that there will be a price."
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