Israel Orders Closure of British Consulate in East Jerusalem
The move follows UK sanctions on settlement goods and accusations of ethnic cleansing against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank territory.
Israel announced on Tuesday that it will close the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem. This decisive action serves as a direct response to the United Kingdom's recent decision to impose trade sanctions on goods originating from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar addressed the press regarding these new measures. He stated that the package includes the expulsion of British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat. Additionally, Israel will terminate British activities aimed at training Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank region.
The Israeli government also declared a denial of entry to twelve British elected officials and nationals. The list of banned individuals includes lawmakers Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, Naz Shah, Diane Abbott, Hannah Spencer, Carla Denyer, Sian Berry, Ellie Chowns, John McDonnell, Richard Burgon, and Adrian Ramsay. Fahad Ansari is also included.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported on Wednesday that the consulate received a thirty-day notice to shut down. After this period expires, British diplomats stationed at the mission will officially lose their accreditation. This timeline was established shortly after the initial announcement by Foreign Minister Saar.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband had previously announced the trade ban in the House of Commons. He cited the existence of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians perpetrated by Israeli settler terrorists as the primary justification. The UK also imposed sanctions on companies facilitating settlement expansion and extremist occupiers.
Miliband further stated that Britain would reject new arms export licenses for items materially contributing to the occupation. The government will maintain the suspension of thirty existing licenses. These diplomatic tensions arise amidst Israeli plans to develop one thousand two hundred new homes in the occupied territory.
Palestinian figures indicate that Netanyahu’s government has approved one hundred four new illegal settlements since late 2022. Additionally, one hundred sixty agricultural outposts were established in the West Bank. The international community considers all such settlements illegal under international law, a position Israel consistently rejects despite widespread condemnation.