Israel and UK Reach Compromise on Jerusalem Consulate
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
Israel and the United Kingdom have agreed to a compromise regarding the British Consulate in East Jerusalem. The consulate will be significantly scaled down, with its staff reduced and its name changed to the 'British Mission, Jerusalem.' This agreement follows recent British sanctions against Israeli settlements and averts a potential diplomatic crisis, including the expulsion of Israeli diplomats from London. Both sides expressed a commitment to dialogue and maintaining relations, though differing views on the status of East Jerusalem persist.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel and the UK reached a compromise on the British Consulate in East Jerusalem, reducing its operations.
- The consulate will be renamed the 'British Mission, Jerusalem' with a significantly smaller diplomatic staff.
- The agreement follows recent British sanctions against Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
- Israel had previously taken retaliatory measures, including expelling British representatives and barring entry to certain individuals.
- The compromise averted a threatened expulsion of 27 Israeli diplomats from the Israeli embassy in London.
- Both foreign ministers emphasized continued dialogue despite differing views on East Jerusalem's status.
Israel and the United Kingdom have reached a compromise regarding the British Consulate in East Jerusalem, which has existed for nearly 200 years. The consulate will undergo significant changes, following recent actions by the British government against settlements in Judea and Samaria. While Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar initially presented the situation as a complete closure, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband clarified that a quarter of the consulate's diplomatic staff will remain. Sa'ar stated that Israel would not allow actions against it without appropriate responses, citing measures taken on September 8, including the removal of British representatives from an aid center in Gaza, halting British training for Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria, and barring entry to 12 British individuals involved in anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activities. The British Consulate in Jerusalem officially ended its operations on the day of the announcement, with its sign being removed.
Sa'ar emphasized that the recent actions by the Labour government led to this situation, despite good relations and security cooperation, including intelligence sharing that recently aided Britain in thwarting an Iranian attack on an air force base. He noted that Israel had provided vital information to Britain in the RAF Fairford case. The compromise allows the British government to operate a reduced mission of only seven diplomats within the former consulate building, which remains British property. This agreement averted a threatened retaliatory measure by Britain to expel 27 Israeli diplomats from its embassy in London.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband presented a different perspective, stating that the UK does not accept Israel's legal right to close the consulate and reiterates its long-standing position that East Jerusalem is occupied territory. He explained that the consulate will be renamed the 'British Mission, Jerusalem,' will remain independent and active, continue to provide essential services, and maintain its work with Palestinians to support the two-state solution. Miliband also noted that the agreement provided necessary assurances for the personal safety of their staff and their families, leading to the temporary relocation of some personnel and their families. He affirmed Britain's commitment to the steps announced on September 8 to support a two-state solution for peace and security.
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