World
UK Keeps Consulate Open in East Jerusalem, Renames It as Mission
British Foreign Minister Ed Miliband announced that the United Kingdom’s consulate in occupied East Jerusalem will remain open, albeit on a reduced scale, and will be renamed the “UK Mission, Jerusalem.” The change follows Israel’s order to close the consulate on Thursday in response to the UK’s planned sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed that the UK is allowed to continue operations in the building with a limited staff of seven diplomats. Twenty diplomats, including the British consul general, are ending their assignments and will leave Israel. Reuters reporters observed the removal of a plaque reading “British Consulate General” and a sign for the consular section from the building, though the UK flag remained. Miliband stated that the UK does not accept Israel’s legal right to close the consulate and that the UK Mission will continue to provide vital services and work with the Palestinian people. The consulate, located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, has historically handled UK relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, and offers consular services to Palestinians. The closure order does not affect the UK’s embassy in Tel Aviv, which manages diplomatic relations with the Israeli government. The UK and Israel remain close economic, security, and intelligence partners despite the current diplomatic strain.}