Israel has ordered most British diplomats to leave the British Consulate in occupied East Jerusalem in response to UK sanctions targeting settlements in the occupied West Bank. The move will leave a limited British team operating from the building under an agreement reached after talks between the two governments.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Israel had carried out measures announced on September 8 in retaliation for the British sanctions. According to the BBC, Sa’ar said the British Consulate in Jerusalem was ending its operations and that its plaque had been removed.
Despite that announcement, the British flag remained outside the building and several staff members were seen entering it on Thursday morning.
Seven diplomats to remain
Sa’ar said discussions with the UK resulted in an agreement under which the consul general and 19 other diplomats, 20 in total, would end their assignments and leave Israel.
He acknowledged that the premises are owned by the British government. Israel has allowed a seven-member skeleton staff to continue working inside the building, although Sa’ar said the team would have a very limited operational role.
Sa’ar said Israel had not wanted the situation to reach this point. He added that the agreement meant no further measures would be taken against Israel.
UK says mission will continue
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK had temporarily withdrawn some employees and their families because of security concerns. He said the British mission would continue its work with Palestinians.
Miliband said the UK does not accept that Israel has the authority to close the consulate, restating London’s position that East Jerusalem is occupied territory.
Following discussions with the Israeli government, he said the building would remain open and would be known as the UK Mission in Jerusalem. However, he said the talks did not produce an understanding on the guarantees Britain considered necessary for the safety and protection of its staff and premises.
“Accordingly, the UK has temporarily withdrawn a number of staff and their families to ensure their security and safety,” Miliband said.
Dispute over settlement sanctions
Israel had said in September that it would close the British Consulate within 30 days in response to revised UK measures against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The settlements are considered illegal under international law.
The British government made last-minute efforts to prevent the closure before the stated deadline. Israeli media also reported that the UK had threatened to expel Israeli diplomats from London, raising concerns about further strain on relations between the two countries.
The British Consulate was established in 1838 and handles UK relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. According to the BBC, it operates separately from the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, which is the UK’s main diplomatic hub in Israel.
Comments
Log in to write a comment