The Israeli government has ordered the British consulate in East Jerusalem to cease operations, following London’s decision to ban trade with illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and sanction those who build or fund them, the Guardian reported. The UK diplomatic mission operates separately from the British embassy in Tel Aviv, which remains open. The consulate serves Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.
Consulate Closure Impacts Palestinian Access to Services
Palestinians will bear the primary burden of the consulate closure, according to Amjad Iraqi, a senior analyst on Israel and Palestine at the International Crisis Group, who spoke to the Guardian. Iraqi stated that Palestinians will lose access to essential consular services once the facility shuts down. He noted that Israeli authorities’ response primarily restricts Britain’s capacity to support Palestinians rather than touching core aspects of bilateral relations between London and Tel Aviv.
Israel has previously restricted the diplomatic activities of the Netherlands, Spain, and Norway in the occupied West Bank. The forced closure of the Jerusalem consulate marks the lowest point in UK-Israeli relations in decades, according to the Guardian. London is reportedly considering expelling 27 Israeli diplomats in response.
Historical Background of the Jerusalem Property
The British government purchased the consulate site in 1963, when East Jerusalem was under Jordanian control. Construction of the complex took four years, but the Six-Day War broke out shortly before the newly appointed Consul-General, John Henry Lewen, moved in during 1967. During the conflict, Israel captured East Jerusalem. At the time, Britain did not recognize Jerusalem as territory under the control of any single state, and its consul-general reported directly to the Foreign Office. In 2017, Palestinian protests commemorating the centenary of the Balfour Declaration were held near the consulate.
Which populations rely on the British consulate in East Jerusalem?
Which populations rely on the British consulate in East Jerusalem?
The consulate provides diplomatic and consular services to Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.
How long has the UK owned the consulate property?
The British government purchased the site in 1963 when East Jerusalem was under Jordanian control, completing the construction complex over a four-year period leading up to the 1967 Six-Day War.
What other European nations have faced restrictions from Israel?
Israel previously restricted the diplomatic activities of the Netherlands, Spain, and Norway within the occupied West Bank.
The UK government is weighing the potential expulsion of 27 Israeli diplomats as diplomatic friction between London and Tel Aviv deepens over West Bank settlement policies.