Israel Demands UK Close East Jerusalem Consulate By Early November Deadline
Israel announced it would close the consulate after UK said it was imposing sanctions on illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israel has instructed the United Kingdom to close its consulate located in occupied East Jerusalem within a 30‑day period, following the UK government’s announcement of sanctions targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Reuters added that UK personnel serving on a U.S.-led Gaza coordination mission, as well as staff based in Ramallah, must depart within seven days, citing an Israeli official and additional sources. Al Jazeera has sought confirmation from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
These developments follow a series of retaliatory measures whereby Israel has responded to broad sanctions enacted by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada on unauthorized Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar affirmed that the United Kingdom would be excluded from the Gaza mission and highlighted that numerous members of the UK parliament—including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn—would be barred from entering the country. He further emphasized that the consulate closure was presented by him as “Israel’s resolute response to British audacity,” accusing local authorities of acting under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband expressed regret over Israel’s decision, yet clarified his lack of surprise regarding the timing.
“We evaluated the potential costs and benefits of intervening… and concluded that we could not remain passive given our concerns over Israeli conduct,” Miliband told the BBC.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir submitted that he had reached out to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the consulate shutdown, labeling it “Israel’s resolute response to British audacity” and accusing Britain of operating through the Palestinian Authority.
In a statement Tuesday, Miliband warned that beyond banning the import of goods derived from settlements in the West Bank, the United Kingdom would impose restrictions on enterprises and individuals supplying reconstruction, infrastructure, financing, or real‑estate services to such settlements. France and Canada echoed this stance by implementing product‑import prohibitions on settlement‑originated items, while nine additional nations—including Denmark and Portugal—backed the British position. Notably, France maintains a consular office in occupied East Jerusalem that holds accreditation with the Palestinian Authority. Among states recognizing the State of Palestine in 2025—the United Kingdom, France, and Canada—each previously imposed sanctions on settlements and senior Israeli figures over allegations of encouraging violence against Palestinians. UK officials were slated to convene later that week to deliberate its response to these coordinated actions.