Israel tells Britain to close East Jerusalem consulate within 30 days, sources say
Israel has ordered the United Kingdom to close its consulate in East Jerusalem within 30 days as a retaliatory measure against British sanctions on Israeli settlements. The move also includes the expulsion of British diplomats and a ban on several high-profile British political figures entering the country.
Why it matters
This represents a significant diplomatic escalation between Israel and the UK, impacting long-standing diplomatic relations and regional security cooperation.
Israel has told the United Kingdom that it must close its consulate in East Jerusalem within 30 days, two Israeli officials and two sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
The closure of the consulate, which represents the British government in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza on Palestinian issues, is among a series of retaliatory measures by Israel in response to the UK, France and Canada announcing sanctions on Israeli settlements on Tuesday.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said on Wednesday he regretted Israel’s decision to order the consulate to close, but said it was not a surprise.
“We weighed the costs and benefits of acting (...) and we thought we simply could not stand by because we feared Israeli action,” he told BBC TV.
On Tuesday, Miliband said Israel had “turned a blind eye” to violence carried out by settlers against Palestinians.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in