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Twenty British diplomats are set to leave Israel as diplomatic tensions between Britain and Israel escalate over Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
Britain has imposed sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, citing concerns over settlement expansion and violence against Palestinians. The move, along with several other measures, has further strained relations between the two countries, according to the Times of Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the decision was made under a bilateral understanding between the two countries. Under the agreement, the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem will cease operating under its existing structure from Thursday.
The consul general and 20 diplomats working at the consulate will leave Israel. However, Britain will continue operating from the building, which is owned by the British government, with a limited staff of seven diplomats. The building will no longer function as a consulate.
The signs reading “British Consulate General” and another sign for the consular section have already been removed from the building.
Sa’ar said Israel had established a clear policy that it would not accept measures taken against it without taking appropriate countermeasures.
According to the report, Israel could have expelled 27 British diplomats in retaliation. However, under the new understanding, all Israeli diplomats currently serving in Britain will be allowed to remain in their posts in London.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement that Britain had made clear that it would not accept Israel’s legal authority to close the British Consulate General in Jerusalem, which has existed for nearly 200 years.
Miliband also reiterated Britain’s long-standing position that East Jerusalem is occupied territory.
He said the consulate would henceforth be called the “UK Mission, Jerusalem” and would continue to provide “important services” and work with the Palestinian people.
