‘Palestinians will bear the cost’: UK consulate in East Jerusalem prepares to shut its doors
The UK consulate in East Jerusalem is preparing to close after Israel ordered it shut, marking a serious downturn in relations between the two countries.
The Guardian reports that Britain is considering expelling 27 Israeli diplomats from London in response. The closure could also limit the UK’s ability to support Palestinians, an issue raised by analyst Iraqi.
The consulate has operated from its East Jerusalem site for about 60 years. Britain bought the land in 1963, and the office later served as a diplomatic link to the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The UK has not recognised Jerusalem as being under any one country’s control. Israel has also restricted diplomatic work by the Netherlands, Spain and Norway in the occupied West Bank.
Residents expressed frustration with what they see as limited international action. The article does not specify when the consulate will close or whether Britain will expel Israeli diplomats.
Key points
- The closure is worsening already strained UK-Israeli relations.
- Britain is reportedly weighing the expulsion of 27 Israeli diplomats.
- The consulate has served in East Jerusalem for roughly six decades.