UK and Israel Reach Deal to Save Jerusalem Mission
The United Kingdom and Israel agreed to rename the British consulate in East Jerusalem as a UK Mission to avoid a total diplomatic shutdown.
The Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Israel reached a last-minute agreement on October 8 to prevent the total closure of the British diplomatic facility in East Jerusalem. Under the deal, the building remains operational but has been renamed the UK Mission, Jerusalem, and all British Consulate General signage was removed. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated the mission will continue to deliver services to Palestinians, though Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar declared that the consulate's operations have ended.
The dispute began in September after the UK imposed a trade ban on goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and sanctions on firms facilitating their construction. Israel responded by ordering the consulate's closure by October 8, barring 12 British citizens from entry, and removing British officials from an international support center in Gaza. Tensions escalated as Britain threatened to expel up to 27 Israeli diplomats from London in retaliation.
Negotiations led by British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell eventually secured the compromise. While the facility remains open with a limited team of seven diplomats, Israel has barred British officials from training Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank. Israel took similar retaliatory action against the Netherlands, revoking the credentials of Dutch diplomats following a similar settlement import ban.
