UK Makes Last-Ditch Effort to Stop Israel Closing East Jerusalem Consulate

The UK government is making a last-ditch diplomatic effort to prevent Israel from closing the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem later this week.

Israel has said it intends to shut the mission on Thursday, following a dispute with the UK over British measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The consulate, which has operated in Jerusalem since 1838, plays an important role in Britain's relations with Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

The UK government has made clear that it does not want the consulate to close.

Why is Israel threatening to close the consulate?

The dispute follows UK action against Israeli settlement activity.

Britain has imposed sanctions targeting individuals and organisations connected to illegal Israeli settlements and has advised British businesses against economic and financial activity in those settlements.

The UK maintains that Israeli settlements in occupied territory are contrary to international law and says settlement expansion threatens the viability of a two-state solution.

Israel announced in September that it would close the British consulate in response to the UK measures.

The mission is separate from the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, which remains Britain's diplomatic representation to Israel.

The British Consulate General in Jerusalem represents the UK government in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza and provides consular assistance to British nationals in those areas.

Diplomatic talks have failed to produce a deal — so far

The UK's National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, reportedly travelled to Israel last week for discussions aimed at resolving the dispute.

However, the visit appears to have ended without an agreement.

With the deadline approaching, British officials are now attempting to find a way to prevent the closure.

The Foreign Office has declined to comment on speculation about possible retaliatory measures against Israel.

Reports in Israeli media have suggested that Britain could respond by expelling Israeli diplomats if the consulate is closed.

Such a move would represent a serious escalation between two countries that remain diplomatic partners.

The reported figure is as many as 27 Israeli diplomats, although the UK government has not publicly confirmed that number.

A diplomatic mission with a long history

The British Consulate General in Jerusalem has a history stretching back almost two centuries.

Its current role goes beyond traditional consular services.

The mission handles Britain's political, commercial, security and economic interests involving Palestinians and provides assistance to British nationals in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

Its position in East Jerusalem also reflects Britain's longstanding diplomatic position on the status of the city.

The UK recognises Israel's de facto authority over West Jerusalem but does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem, regarding its status as an issue to be resolved through negotiations.

Why the closure matters

The potential closure is about more than a diplomatic building.

The consulate provides a channel for British engagement with Palestinian communities and institutions.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has previously said the UK did not want the mission to close, arguing that its work with communities in the area was important.

The UK has also repeatedly linked its policies on settlement expansion to its support for a future two-state solution.

In June, the government announced further sanctions against organisations accused of financing or enabling settler violence in the West Bank and strengthened guidance advising British businesses against economic and financial activity in illegal Israeli settlements.

Political criticism in Britain

The potential closure has also attracted criticism from British politicians.

Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, has argued that Israel does not have the authority to close a British diplomatic mission in occupied East Jerusalem and described the proposed closure as an attempt to obstruct efforts towards a two-state solution.

Those are Thornberry's political views rather than an independent legal finding.

The wider dispute highlights the increasingly difficult relationship between Britain and the Israeli government over settlement expansion and the future of the occupied Palestinian territories.

Tit-for-tat expulsions could escalate tensions

One of the most significant questions is what Britain would do if Israel follows through with the closure.

Expelling diplomats is a recognised diplomatic response to serious disputes, but it would represent a significant escalation between the UK and Israel.

France and Canada, which have also taken action concerning Israeli settlements, have not faced the same reported threat to their diplomatic missions.

The UK therefore faces a difficult choice as Thursday approaches.

It wants to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel while continuing policies it says are intended to oppose settlement expansion and support the prospects for a two-state solution.

What happens next?

The immediate focus is now on whether British and Israeli officials can reach an agreement before Thursday.

If they do, the consulate could remain open and the diplomatic dispute could be contained.

If no agreement is reached, Israel's planned closure could trigger a further deterioration in relations and potentially lead to reciprocal diplomatic measures.

For the people and communities served by the mission, the consequences could be practical as well as diplomatic.

The British government says the consulate performs important work across Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

For now, however, the clock is ticking.

Britain is making a final diplomatic push to keep the East Jerusalem consulate open — and Thursday's deadline could determine the next stage of the dispute.