World · Middle East · 4 days ago
UK keeps Jerusalem mission open as Israel removes consulate status
Israel says the British consulate in East Jerusalem has ended its work and has ordered 20 diplomats, including the consul general, to leave.
Britain says the building will remain open as the UK Mission, Jerusalem, with seven diplomats continuing to work there independently.
The consulate, founded in 1838, handles British relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.
Israel ordered it closed in September after Britain announced measures against trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israel says the change is part of its response, while Britain says East Jerusalem is occupied territory and disputes Israel’s legal right to close the consulate.
The two governments have agreed to avoid further immediate retaliation, but they disagree on whether the mission is closing or continuing.
Britain says it temporarily withdrew some staff and families for safety and plans to rebuild its presence in the coming months.
Israel says the British consulate in East Jerusalem has ended its functions, while the UK says the building will remain open as the UK Mission, Jerusalem.
Twenty British diplomats, including the consul general, are to leave Israel, while a task force of seven diplomats may remain.
The UK says the remaining mission will operate independently and continue services and work with Palestinians.
Israel ordered the consulate’s closure in September in retaliation for UK measures against trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The two governments say they have agreed to continue discussions, and the UK says it will not take reciprocal action while talks continue.
- Who
- The UK and Israel. The measures affect British diplomats and the UK’s mission in Jerusalem.
- What
- Israel says the consulate has ended its functions and 20 diplomats will leave. The UK says the building will stay open as the UK Mission, Jerusalem, with seven diplomats allowed to remain.
- When
- Thursday, 8 October 2026. Israel ordered the closure in September.
- Where
- The British consulate building in East Jerusalem.
- Why
- Israel said the closure was retaliation for UK measures against trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The UK said it did not accept Israel’s legal right to close the consulate.
Israel
UK
Status of the consulate
Israel
Israel says the consulate has ended its functions.
UK
The UK says the building will remain open as the UK Mission, Jerusalem.
Diplomatic presence
Israel
Israel says 20 diplomats, including the consul general, will leave and seven may remain with a very limited scope of activity.
UK
The UK says seven diplomats will remain independent and operational, and that it will work to build up its presence.
Legal position
Israel
Israel says it implemented its order to close the consulate.
UK
The UK says it does not accept that Israel has the legal right to enforce the closure and considers East Jerusalem occupied territory.
Gideon Sa’ar ordered the British consulate to close as part of measures in response to UK sanctions on settlements.
Israel said the closure was retaliation for UK measures against trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israel said the consulate had ended its functions and that 20 diplomats, including the consul general, would leave.
The UK said the building would remain open as the UK Mission, Jerusalem, with seven diplomats continuing to work there.
- Diplomats leaving
- 20, including the consul general
- Diplomats remaining
- 7
- Location
- East Jerusalem
- New name
- UK Mission, Jerusalem
- Consulate founded
- 1838
What people are saying
We did not want it to come to this
We will work in the coming months to build back up our presence, and we will not take reciprocal action while such discussions are underway and credible.
The UK Mission, Jerusalem is independent, operational and will continue to deliver vital services and our work with the Palestinian people
The arrangement that the UK arrived at with Israel was probably the optimal among a number of options that were even worse.
Sources
Israel’s downgrading of UK consulate aims to tighten its hold on Jerusalem
Most UK diplomats to leave East Jerusalem consulate, Israel says, as Miliband says 'vital services' to remain
Israel forces closure of British consulate in Jerusalem
Has Israel shut the UK consulate in East Jerusalem – or downgraded it?
Israel downgrades consulate of UK in east Jerusalem as 20 staffers leave
Britain downscales and renames Jerusalem consulate after Israel orders closure
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