In brief
Britain has decided to keep its East Jerusalem consulate operational as a "UK Mission" after Israel removed most diplomats due to security concerns. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the withdrawal, while the UK's Ed Miliband assured the mission will continue to work with Palestinians. The decision follows Britain's sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, prompting Israel's earlier threat to shut the consulate. The move heightens tensions between the two countries amid the ongoing dispute over Jerusalem and the occupied territories.
Britain has decided to keep its East Jerusalem consulate operational as a "UK Mission" after Israel removed most diplomats due to security concerns.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the withdrawal, stating "We did not want it to come to this" and that 20 diplomats and the Consul General would leave, while a small task‑force of seven would remain to handle a very limited scope of activity.
In response, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said some staff had been "temporarily withdrawn" for security reasons and pledged that the mission would still work with the Palestinian people.
The decision comes after Britain imposed sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which Israel claims are illegal under international law, prompting the earlier threat to shut the consulate in September.
The rift over the settlement sanctions and the status of Jerusalem has deepened the diplomatic divide, raising concerns about future cooperation on the region’s fragile security balance.
