Israel Palestine United Kingdom

Israel said the British consulate in Jerusalem ceased operating as a consulate on Thursday, with 20 diplomats, including the consul general, ending their missions and leaving the country. Britain said the building would remain open as the UK Mission, Jerusalem, which it said would continue providing vital services and working with Palestinians.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said seven diplomats would be permitted to remain at the British-owned premises as a task force. He said their work would be restricted and that the site had stopped functioning as a consulate.

Saar said the reduction in the British presence followed discussions with the UK government intended to prevent a further escalation in tensions between the two countries. He said Britain and Israel had agreed to maintain dialogue between their governments, allowing each side to raise matters it considers important.

UK Foreign Minister Ed Miliband said the renamed mission would remain independent and operational. “The UK Mission, Jerusalem is independent, operational and will continue to deliver vital services and our work with the Palestinian people,” he said in a statement.

Closure order followed sanctions dispute

The change follows Israel's September 8 order to close the British consulate. Saar said at the time that the measure was retaliation for Britain's role in leading Western sanctions over violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Israel's response came after 12 countries, including Britain, Canada and France, said they would impose sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank following an increase in settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied territory.

When he announced the closure order in September, Saar also said Israel would expel British representatives from a centre monitoring the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan, prohibit British training for Palestinian Authority forces and bar 12 Britons, most of them members of parliament, from visiting. Saar said on Thursday that those measures had been carried out.

An AFP photographer reported that the diplomatic emblem and plaque previously displayed on the consulate building's facade had been removed on Thursday. It was not immediately clear whether replacement plaques would be installed.

Role of the Jerusalem mission

The British consulate was established nearly 200 years ago and is located in east Jerusalem, an area Israel captured in 1967 that is part of the historically Palestinian area. Israel later annexed east Jerusalem and regards the city as its undivided capital.

Although Israel controls east Jerusalem, most countries, including Britain, do not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the entire city.

According to its website, the British consulate has handled political, commercial, security and economic interests between the UK and Palestine. It has also provided consular services for British nationals in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.