Israeli foreign minister Saar says British Consulate in Jerusalem ceases operations, expels 20 diplomats
Workers removed signs from the British Consulate General in occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday as an Israeli deadline for shutting down the diplomatic mission expired, according to an Anadolu correspondent on the ground.
The correspondent saw workers taking down a plaque identifying the building as the British Consulate General, along with signage for its consular section.
Thursday marked the end of a 30-day deadline imposed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who ordered the consulate’s closure in response to British sanctions targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including a ban on imports of settlement products.
Saar said on the US social media company X that Israel had established a “clear principle” that any measure taken against Israel would be met with appropriate Israeli countermeasure.
He said measures announced on Sept. 8 had now been implemented, including removing British representatives from the international aid coordination center for Gaza in Kiryat Gat, halting British activities aimed at training Palestinian Authority forces in the occupied West Bank, and barring 12 elected British officials and other citizens from entering Israel.
“The British Consulate in Jerusalem ceases operations today,” Saar said, adding that the consulate’s signage had therefore been removed.
Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Ed Milliband said the “Consulate General building will not be closing, and will be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem from today.”
Saar said Israel and Britain held talks over the past week aimed at preventing further escalation in bilateral relations, reaching understandings late Wednesday. Miliband also confirmed the discussions.
Under those understandings, the British Consulate in Jerusalem formally ended operations on Thursday, while the consul general and 20 diplomats, including the consul general, will conclude their assignments and leave Israel, Saar said.
He added that the consulate building remains the property of the British government and that Israel had allowed London to retain a team of seven diplomats there, but only for a “very limited” range of activities.
The consulate in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood oversees Britain’s relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza, while also providing consular services.
The closure order does not affect the British Embassy in Tel Aviv.