UK and Israel Clash Over Jerusalem Consulate Status

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a tense exchange between London and Tel Aviv has intensified following Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi’s declaration of the closure of the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem. This move by Israel comes in response to recent British actions targeting settlements in the occupied West Bank amidst escalating settler violence.

However, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband countered the announcement, stating that the building will not be closed but will henceforth be known as the UK‘s representative office in Jerusalem. He further emphasized that the office will continue to operate independently and provide services to Palestinians.

Miliband underscored that the UK is working to bolster its presence there following the recent departure of some consulate staff and their families from Jerusalem. He reiterated London’s clear stance, stating that the UK does not recognize the Israeli cabinet’s right to close the British consulate in Jerusalem, which has been active for over 200 years. The British government also affirmed its firm position that East Jerusalem is considered occupied territory.

The British Foreign Secretary added that the UK’s representative office in Jerusalem is “independent and active” and “will continue to provide its vital services.”

In contrast, Gabi Ashkenazi asserted that the British consulate in Jerusalem would cease its operations on Thursday, with Britain not undertaking any reciprocal measures against Tel Aviv, and the consulate’s signage in Jerusalem being removed. The Israeli official stated that while they did not wish to reach this point, the policies of the British government had led to this situation. London had recently implemented a broad range of sanctions against West Bank settlements, along with additional restrictions on the export of defense equipment to Israel.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that retaliatory measures against the UK would include the expulsion of British representatives from the international aid center in Sderot, Gaza; the cessation of British training programs for Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank; and a ban on entry for 12 elected officials, other British citizens, and individuals involved in “anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activities.”