UK scales back Jerusalem consulate after Israel dispute
Britain has withdrawn diplomats from its consulate in East Jerusalem after reaching an agreement with Israel over the future of the diplomatic mission. According to Israel, the consulate had ceased operating in its previous capacity. Britain insisted that the building would remain open under the name UK Mission, Jerusalem. The move follows a diplomatic dispute over British measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank .
What has happened to the British consulate? Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said 20 British diplomats, including the consul general, were ending their assignments and leaving Israel . Seven diplomats would be allowed to continue working from the building, although their activities would be "very limited," he said. The consulate's diplomatic emblem and sign were removed from the building on Thursday. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said London had temporarily withdrawn some staff and their families to ensure their safety.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article does not report that Saar also said British officials had been removed from an international support centre in Gaza and could no longer train Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank. Without this, a reader believes Israel's retaliation ended with the consulate sign and staff numbers.
How we know
- The New York Times reported“British officials had also been removed from an international support center in Gaza and that British officials would no longer be able to train Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank”Israel and U.K. Cut Last-Minute Deal to Avoid Full Closure of British Consulate in East Jerusalem (opens in a new tab)
He insisted the mission would remain independent and operational, continuing to provide "vital services" and work with Palestinians. Israel’s operations divide London’s Jewish community To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Miliband said Britain did not accept that Israel had the legal right to close the consulate, which was established in 1838. Why did Israel order the consulate to close?
Israel ordered the closure on September 8 in retaliation for British measures against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Britain joined other countries in announcing trade restrictions and sanctions targeting settlements and individuals linked to settler violence against Palestinians. Israel condemned the measures as a diplomatic attack. The British consulate has traditionally handled relations with Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza , separately from Britain's embassy in Tel Aviv.
Israel captured East Jerusalem in 1967 and subsequently annexed it, a move not recognized by most countries, including Britain. Miliband said Britain would not take retaliatory diplomatic action while talks with Israel continued. He reaffirmed London's support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google , so you'll always see our verified news first.
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