UK, Israel Strike Compromise on East Jerusalem Consulate — SkimNews
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- Gideon Saar announced 20 diplomats and the consul general are ending duties and leaving Israel, while authorizing a 'task force of only seven diplomats with a very limited scope of activity' to stay in the building, which he called 'the property of the British government'
- Ed Miliband insisted the building 'will not be closing' and will operate as the 'UK Mission, Jerusalem,' saying the 20 staff were 'temporarily withdrawn' for security after no agreement was reached on 'necessary assurances for the safety and protections of our staff and premises'
- Israel's September decision to shut the consulate was retaliation for UK sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which the article notes are 'illegal under international law'
- The consulate, established in 1838, handles UK relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, and is distinct from the UK embassy in Tel Aviv
- Miliband reserved the right to take 'reciprocal action' but held off while 'discussions are under way and credible,' with UK retaliation 'unlikely before Israel's elections later this month'
- Israeli media had reported the UK threatened to expel Israeli diplomats from London; the deal now means 'no steps will be taken against Israel,' according to Saar
Why it matters: The compromise lets both governments claim a win: Israel says the consulate is 'closing its operations' and most UK diplomats are gone, while the UK keeps a building, a flag, and seven staff serving Palestinians. But with no security assurances secured and UK reciprocal action deferred until after Israel's elections, the underlying UK-Israel dispute over West Bank sanctions remains live and could reignite within weeks.
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