Britain's Jerusalem consulate becomes 'UK Mission' as most diplomats leave
Britain's consulate in East Jerusalem got a new name Thursday, the "UK Mission, Jerusalem," after a last-minute deal with Israel. Israel says the consul general and 19 diplomats must leave, and only seven may stay. Britain says the building is not closing, and it will not hit back while talks go on.
Britain's consulate in East Jerusalem stopped working as a consulate on Thursday. But the building stays open under a new name after a last-minute deal with Israel.
It will now be called the UK Mission, Jerusalem, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement. He said the mission is "independent, operational" and will keep providing services and working with Palestinians.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the consul general and 19 diplomats are ending their posts and will leave Israel, Israel Hayom reported. The BBC put the number leaving at 20 diplomats plus the consul general. Israel will let a team of only seven diplomats work from the building, with what Saar called "a very limited scope of activity." Israel Hayom reported the two sides reached the deal Wednesday night.
The fight began in September. Israel said it would shut the consulate in response to British sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, the BBC reported. Israel set a 30-day clock that ran out Thursday. Saar said all four steps Israel announced on Sept. 8 have now been carried out.
The two governments describe the result very differently. Saar said the consulate "ended its role today" and its sign was taken down. But the British flag still flew outside Thursday morning, and staff were seen going in, the BBC reported. Miliband said Israel has no legal right to close the mission and that Britain still sees East Jerusalem as occupied territory.
Miliband said Britain had temporarily withdrawn some staff and their families "to ensure their safety and security." He said Britain will work to build its presence back up in the coming months. It will not take "reciprocal action" while talks are "underway and credible," he said. The BBC noted that makes any British response unlikely before Israel's elections later this month.
Saar said Israel wants good relations with Britain and pointed to close security and intelligence ties. He said Israel recently gave Britain "vital information" in the RAF Fairford case. But he warned that any country that acts against Israel "must know that there will be a price."
The consulate dates to 1838. It handles Britain's ties with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, and is separate from the British Embassy in Tel Aviv.
What we know: The building stays open with seven diplomats, and the consul general is among those leaving.
What we don't: Whether the withdrawn diplomats will be allowed to return.
Where outlets agree The BBC and Israel Hayom both report that Israel will let only seven British diplomats keep working from the building.
Where they differ Saar says the consulate "ended its role today," while Miliband says the building "will not be closing" and Israel has no legal right to close it.