1 hr ago
Israel Ends British Consulate Status Amid Diplomatic Row
Israel says the British Consulate in east Jerusalem will no longer work under its old name and role.
Twenty British diplomats are leaving Israel.
A smaller team will stay in the building and continue helping Palestinians and British visitors.
Britain plans to call the building the UK Mission, Jerusalem.
The two countries are arguing after Britain banned trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Britain says Israel does not have the legal right to close the consulate.
Britain is not expelling Israeli diplomats while the countries keep talking.
Israel says the building will have a much smaller set of duties.
Israel said the British Consulate in east Jerusalem had ceased functioning as a consulate and that 20 British diplomats would leave the country.
A seven-diplomat task force will continue operating in the building, which Britain says will be called the UK Mission, Jerusalem.
The dispute followed the United Kingdom’s ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Britain said it would not expel Israeli diplomats while talks continue about rebuilding its presence, though it had previously threatened retaliation.
Britain disputes Israel’s right to close the consulate and describes east Jerusalem as occupied territory; Israel views West Bank settlements as important to security.
- Who
- The governments of Israel and the United Kingdom, including Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.
- What
- Israel said the British Consulate General had ceased functioning in that capacity; 20 British diplomats will leave, while a smaller team remains.
- Where
- The British consulate building in east Jerusalem; the order does not affect the British embassy in Tel Aviv.
- When
- The announcement was made on Thursday; the dispute began after the United Kingdom’s trade ban last month.
- Why
- The diplomatic dispute followed the United Kingdom’s ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
United Kingdom
Israel
Consulate’s status and legal authority
United Kingdom
Britain rejects Israel’s legal right to close its nearly 200-year-old consulate and says its building and work will continue as the UK Mission, Jerusalem.
Israel
Israel says the consulate has ceased functioning in that capacity and will operate only with a seven-diplomat task force and a very limited remit.
Settlements and the dispute
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom banned trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank; it describes east Jerusalem as occupied territory.
Israel
Israel’s government views the West Bank as the Jewish people’s biblical and historical homeland and settlements as important to security.
Retaliation
United Kingdom
Britain said it would not expel Israeli diplomats while discussions about rebuilding its presence are underway.
Israel
Israel said Britain had agreed not to take retaliatory measures, describing the understanding as an effort to prevent further deterioration in relations.
Key facts
- Staff leaving
- Twenty British diplomats will leave Israel, including the consul general.
- Staff remaining
- Israel said a task force of seven diplomats would continue operating with a very limited scope.
- New name
- Britain said the building would be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem.
- British response
- Britain said it would not expel Israeli diplomats while discussions continue.
- Trigger for dispute
- The United Kingdom banned trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank last month.
- British position
- Britain says east Jerusalem is occupied territory and disputes Israel’s legal right to close the consulate.
- Embassy status
- The closure order does not affect the British embassy in Tel Aviv.
Quotes
Gideon Saar
Israeli foreign minister
“This will ensure that we maintain our longstanding British presence and the UK's role in support of a two-state solution.”
thehansindia.com
telegraphindia.com
“Israel will no longer turn its cheek to diplomatic attacks against it.”
thehansindia.com
telegraphindia.com
Stephen Doughty
British minister for the Middle East
“Our building remains open, our staff remain doing important work.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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