Why the UK Is Changing Its Diplomatic Presence in Jerusalem

Why is the UK consulate in Jerusalem becoming a mission?

The immediate cause is a dispute between the UK and Israel over settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel said it would close the British consulate in East Jerusalem in response to planned UK sanctions on Israeli settlements. ¹²

The UK says the building will not close. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said it would remain independent and operational under the name “UK Mission”, and would continue working with Palestinian people. ¹² The sources describe a change in how the presence is named and staffed, not an end to the UK’s work there.

What is changing at the East Jerusalem consulate?

The consulate general building is in Sheikh Jarrah, in East Jerusalem. It has served as the UK’s diplomatic representation for Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. ³

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, said that 20 diplomats and the Consul General would leave Israel, while a seven-person task force could remain in the building with a very limited scope of activity. ¹ The UK said it had temporarily withdrawn some staff for security reasons and had also withdrawn family members in recent weeks. ¹²

The accounts show a difference in emphasis: Israel described the remaining team’s role as very limited, while the UK stressed that the mission would remain operational and serve Palestinians. ¹²

What services will the UK Mission provide?

The UK has said the mission will remain operational and work with Palestinian people. ¹² The available reporting does not give a service-by-service list, explain whether existing services will change, or say how people will access them.

It is therefore possible to say that the UK intends to keep a presence and continue its work with Palestinians, but not to promise that any particular service will be available in the same way as before. The mission’s staffing and practical arrangements remain unclear in the information provided.

Does this mean the UK is cutting ties with Israel?

The UK has said it will not take reciprocal action against Israel while the two countries are engaged in talks. ² That means the reported change to the East Jerusalem presence should not be described as a full break in diplomatic relations.

The sources do not set out the talks’ timetable or say what outcome either side expects. They do establish that the dispute concerns UK sanctions on settlements and Israel’s response to those plans. ¹²

What is still unclear about the mission?

The reports do not explain the mission’s final staffing level, its full range of work, or when the UK expects to build its presence back up. Miliband said the UK would work to build up its presence after staff and families had been withdrawn. ²

For people looking for practical information, the key unresolved point is which services will continue and how they will be delivered. The sources establish the UK’s stated intention to keep the building operating, but not the day-to-day details. ¹²