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UK Security Adviser Fails to Secure Jerusalem Consulate's Future
Britain has a consulate in East Jerusalem that works with Palestinians and provides them with services.
Israel ordered Britain to close it after Britain announced sanctions on Israeli settlements.
Britain said it was concerned about settlement expansion and attacks on Palestinians.
Jonathan Powell, a senior UK security adviser, visited Israel to try to keep the consulate open.
He spoke with Israeli officials, but the two sides had not reached an agreement.
The closure deadline was Thursday, and sources said a deal before then seemed unlikely.
Israel said the consulate would close as planned.
Britain and Israel have also disagreed about the possibility of a Palestinian state.
National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell visited Israel last week and met Israeli officials about keeping the UK consulate in East Jerusalem open.
Israel ordered Britain on September 8 to close the consulate within 30 days, following Britain's announcement of sanctions on Israeli settlements.
The consulate's closure deadline was Thursday; sources said talks were continuing but a deal before then was unlikely.
The UK said its sanctions responded to settlement expansion plans and rising settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Israel's foreign minister condemned the sanctions, while an Israeli spokesperson said the consulate would close as announced.
- Who
- UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell and Israeli officials.
- What
- Powell visited Israel and held talks seeking to prevent the closure of the UK consulate in East Jerusalem, but no agreement was reached.
- Where
- Israel; the consulate is in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem.
- When
- Powell visited the week before the report, published October 5; Israel's 30-day closure deadline was due to expire on Thursday.
- Why
- Israel ordered the closure after Britain announced sanctions on Israeli settlements.
Britain's position
Israel's position
Sanctions and settlements
Britain's position
Britain said Israeli actions were undermining the possibility of a two-state solution and cited settlement expansion plans and rising settler attacks against Palestinians.
Israel's position
Israel disputes the view held by much of the world that its West Bank settlements are illegal under international law. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called Britain's sanctions “morally distorted.”
Consulate closure
Britain's position
Powell held talks with Israeli officials in an effort to keep the consulate open; sources said an agreement remained possible, though unlikely by the deadline.
Israel's position
An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson said the consulate would close on Thursday as announced.
Palestinian statehood
Britain's position
Britain said Israeli actions were undermining the possibility of a Palestinian state co-existing peacefully alongside Israel.
Israel's position
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government openly rejects the idea of Palestinian statehood.
Key facts
- UK official
- National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell
- Consulate location
- Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, East Jerusalem
- Israeli closure order
- Issued on September 8, with a 30-day deadline
- Deadline
- Thursday, according to the report
- UK's stated reasons for sanctions
- Israeli government-backed settlement expansion plans and rising settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank
- Sanctions timing
- The British sanctions were due to take effect the following year
- Consulate's work
- Handles UK relations with Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, and provides consular services to Palestinians
- Other countries named
- France and Canada joined the sanctions; Israel had not taken action against them, according to the report
Sources
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