Most UK diplomats leaving East Jerusalem as Israel says consulate has closed

On Israel’s figures, most British diplomats are leaving East Jerusalem after Israel said on Thursday that the British consulate there had closed. The UK disputes that description. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the building “will not be closing” and will be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem from Thursday.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said 20 diplomats, including the consul general, are ending their duties and will leave Israel. The change affects British staff and their families, and the Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza whom the consulate serves. The BBC reports that the consulate, first established in 1838, handles UK relations with Palestinians. It is separate from the UK embassy in Tel Aviv, the main British hub for dealings with Israel.

Two accounts of the same arrangement

The two governments describe the outcome very differently. Sa’ar wrote that “the British Consulate in Jerusalem is closing its operations today” and that its sign had been removed. He said Israel had authorised “a task force of only seven diplomats with a very limited scope of activity” to work from the building, which he noted is British government property.

Miliband said the UK does not accept “that the Government of Israel has the legal right to close the British Consulate General in Jerusalem”. He repeated the UK’s long-standing view that East Jerusalem is occupied territory. He said the UK Mission is “independent, operational” and will keep working with the Palestinian people.

Foreign Office staff leaving Jerusalem: what changes for services

On Israel’s figures, 20 diplomats leave and seven stay. That would mean roughly three in four of the 27 diplomats covered by the arrangement are going, about 74%. That is our calculation from Israel’s numbers, not a figure given by either government.

The Foreign Office said the seven remaining diplomats will continue to deliver “vital services”. Israel says their scope will be limited. The statements do not list which services will continue or be reduced, so people who rely on the mission should check for updates from the Foreign Office.

Miliband said the withdrawals were needed because, without an understanding, the UK lacked “the necessary assurances for the security and protections of our staff and premises”. The BBC reports that FCDO sources called the deal a “good outcome” because the whole operation was not shut, and said keeping a presence would help rebuild the mission later.

How the UK-Israel diplomatic row reached this point, and what comes next

The dispute began on 8 September, when the UK announced measures in support of a two-state solution. The BBC reports these included sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which the UK and most of the international community consider illegal under international law. Israel disputes this. Israel responded the same day and said it would close the consulate within 30 days. The deadline fell on Thursday.

Sa’ar said Israel had also removed British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat, ended British training of Palestinian Authority forces, and denied entry to 12 British elected officials and other British citizens. He said the agreement means “no steps will be taken against Israel”. Israeli media had reported that the UK threatened to expel Israeli diplomats from London, according to the BBC.

Miliband said the UK reserves the right to act but “will not take reciprocal action while such discussions are underway and credible”. The BBC says that makes UK retaliation unlikely before Israel’s elections later this month. Miliband said the UK will “work in the coming months to build back up our presence”. Sa’ar said both sides agreed to continue dialogue, but added: “I cannot promise that there will not be further crises in the future.”