Israel has announced the closure of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem after the United Kingdom imposed new restrictions on trade and services connected to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
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Israel has announced that it will close the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem in retaliation for new British restrictions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced the decision on Tuesday, September 8, following the United Kingdom’s introduction of measures covering goods and commercial services connected to the settlements.
The consulate represents British diplomatic engagement in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. It is separate from the British Embassy in Tel Aviv and maintains relations with the Palestinian Authority.
Sa’ar said the Israeli response had been coordinated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He accused the British government of interfering in Israeli affairs and rejected allegations made by UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband concerning the treatment and displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank.
Israel’s response extends beyond the consulate. Sa’ar said Britain would no longer participate in a United States-led coordination mission for Gaza, while British involvement in training Palestinian Authority security forces in the West Bank would be terminated.
Israel also plans to prevent several British nationals, including some elected officials, from entering the country.
The measures followed Britain’s announcement that it would prohibit imports from Israeli settlements and restrict companies from providing financing, construction, infrastructure, property and advertising services connected to them.
France and Canada announced similar action. A wider group of European governments also expressed support for measures intended to discourage settlement expansion and preserve the possibility of a negotiated two-state solution.
The United Nations and most governments regard Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as illegal under international law. Israel disputes that interpretation and maintains historical and security claims over the territory.
The immediate economic effect of the trade restrictions may be limited because settlement products represent a small proportion of Israel’s exports. Their diplomatic significance is greater, particularly as relations between Israel and several traditional Western partners become increasingly strained.
The United States said it would not follow the settlement-import restrictions, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning that the measures could further destabilise the West Bank.
The planned closure of the consulate could affect Britain’s diplomatic access to Palestinian officials and its participation in programmes operating across the Palestinian territories. Further information is required to establish when the closure and accompanying restrictions will take effect.
