Israel Ends British Consulate's Consular Role in Jerusalem as London Keeps a Smaller UK Mission
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced a set of understandings with Britain after a dispute over London's import ban on goods from Judea and Samaria. Britain confirms a smaller mission and a conditional pause on retaliation.
Israel and Britain have reached understandings that end the consular role of Britain's Consulate General in Jerusalem and cut its staff, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced on Thursday, October 8. Britain says the building will stay open under a new name, “UK Mission, Jerusalem”, with a reduced team.
According to Sa'ar, the understandings were reached the previous night. They cover the consulate, British participation in the International Gaza Support Center, entry bans on British citizens, British training of Palestinian Authority security personnel and the terms of continued dialogue between the two governments.
A smaller mission, not a closure
Sa'ar said the building would stop functioning as a consulate. The consul general and 19 other diplomats are to leave, and seven are to remain with limited functions, according to his announcement.
The British side describes the same outcome in different terms. Reuters reported that Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK Mission would continue serving Palestinians and that Britain would rebuild its presence. Reports drawing on both governments' statements describe British operations continuing from the Jerusalem building under a reduced arrangement rather than a full shutdown. JNS also reported that the consulate sign had been removed.
Britain has confirmed that staff were withdrawn, though it has not publicly confirmed the exact numbers Sa'ar gave.
Gaza centre, entry bans and PA training
Sa'ar listed three further measures. British representatives are to be removed from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat, in southern Israel. Britain's training activity for Palestinian Authority security personnel is to end. And 12 British elected officials, along with other British citizens, are barred from entering Israel.
Sa'ar set out accusations against the barred individuals as the government's reasons for excluding them; they are not findings of any court. The names of those barred and the legal instruments used have not been published, and Britain has not publicly confirmed the Kiryat Gat and training measures.
A dispute that began with an import ban
According to JNS, the confrontation over the consulate followed Britain's September 8 ban on imports of goods produced in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. The two governments now present one common point: talks will go on. Sa'ar said dialogue would continue without British countermeasures over Israel's decisions. Britain frames this more narrowly. According to Reuters, its pause on reciprocal measures holds only as long as credible discussions continue.
The Fairford case
Sa'ar also said Israel had provided Britain with important information in connection with the RAF Fairford suspected plot inquiry in Britain. He did not describe the information, and Britain has not confirmed its content. The reference does not establish who was responsible for the suspected plot.
What comes next depends on the talks. A signed bilateral text has not been published, and the exact dates on which the Kiryat Gat and training measures take effect have not been announced.
