Britain has issued an ultimatum to Israel to permanently reopen the Jerusalem consulate, or it will expel diplomats from the UK in a tit-for-tat response.
The diplomatic post was closed by Israel after Ed Miliband slapped a series of trade sanctions on West Bank settlements last month.
The two countries reached a last-minute agreement on Wednesday evening to keep Britain’s consulate in the holy city open.
Under the deal, the consulate building will remain open but operate under the new name “UK Mission, Jerusalem”, a separate entity from the British Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Just seven diplomats will remain, a sharp reduction from the roughly 27 previously stationed there.
Wednesday’s deal was seen as a compromise that preserves Britain’s presence in the region while allowing Israel to follow through on its initial decision.
Britain has issued an ultimatum to Israel to permanently reopen the UK’s Jerusalem consulate or face the expulsion of diplomats
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PA
Israel was said to have pushed hard to absorb the remaining personnel into the embassy instead.
The diplomats who departed will carry on the mission’s work from other British diplomatic posts across the Middle East or from London.
However, the arrangement is understood to be only a temporary reprieve.
Whitehall has signalled it will revive the expulsion threat if subsequent negotiations fail to produce a credible path to reinstating the mission’s full complement of staff, The Telegraph reported.
The diplomatic post was closed by Israel after Ed Miliband slapped sanctions on West Bank settlements
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GETTY
Whitehall regarded preserving the mission’s independence from the Tel Aviv embassy as essential, given Jerusalem’s symbolic significance.
The diplomatic crisis was triggered by Israel’s response to trade sanctions that Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced on September 8, targeting goods produced in West Bank settlements.
Britain imposed the measures alongside France and Canada, maintaining its longstanding position that the settlements violate international law, a view Israel disputes.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar retaliated with a suite of countermeasures, ordering the East Jerusalem consulate shut within 30 days.
A temporary last-minute agreement was reached to keep Britain’s consulate in the holy city open
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GETTY
He also expelled British representatives from the international aid coordination centre for Gaza, based in Kiryat Gat, and ended British involvement in training Palestinian Authority security forces.
Israel additionally barred 12 British parliamentarians from entering the country, among them former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott.
Dozens of locally employed staff had already been dismissed ahead of the October 8 closure deadline, and British diplomatic personnel were preparing to leave.
“We do not accept that the Government of Israel has the legal right to close the British consulate general in Jerusalem, which has been there for nearly 20 years,” Mr Miliband said on Thursday.
“The UK Government reiterates its longstanding view that East Jerusalem is occupied territory.”
The Foreign Secretary added that the mission would remain “independent, operational, and will continue to deliver vital services and our work with the Palestinian people.”
Mr Sa’ar responded defiantly, stressing that Israel had established a “clear principle” on the issue.
“Action cannot be taken against Israel without Israel taking appropriate measures in response,” the Israeli Foreign Minister said.
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