British diplomats to remain at scaled-down mission in Jerusalem

Britain and Israel agreed on Thursday to keep the nearly 200-year-old British diplomatic mission in Jerusalem open on a smaller scale and under a new name, averting a major diplomatic crisis between the two allies.

Under the last-minute agreement, Britain will rename the consulate, founded in 1839, the “UK Mission, Jerusalem”.

Israel said 20 British diplomats, including the consul general, would leave, leaving seven staff members at the mission to work in a limited capacity. Britain said it had temporarily withdrawn some diplomats and intended to rebuild its presence, while holding off on reciprocal measures for now.

Israel had given Britain a 30-day deadline last month to close the consulate after London announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including a ban on trade in goods produced there.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the consulate would formally end its operations but that some British diplomats would be allowed to continue working from the building.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain did not accept that Israel had the legal right to close the consulate.

“Following discussions with Israel, our Consulate General building will not be closing, and will be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem from today,” Miliband said, adding that it would continue to “deliver vital services and our work with the Palestinian people”.

The consulate is located in a part of Jerusalem captured by Israel in the 1967 war and later annexed by Israel in a move not recognised by most countries.

On Thursday morning, workers removed a plaque reading “British Consulate General” and another sign identifying its consular section. The British flag remained flying over the building.

Saar said Israel and Britain reached an understanding on Wednesday night to prevent further deterioration in relations, with Britain agreeing not to take retaliatory measures.

Miliband said Britain had “temporarily withdrawn a number of staff and families to ensure their safety and security” and would work in the coming months to rebuild its presence.

“We will not take reciprocal action while such discussions are underway and credible,” he said.

Last week, Britain’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell visited Israel in an effort to keep the consulate open.

Britain’s minister for the Middle East, Stephen Doughty, said the government deeply regretted Israel’s decision.

“Our building remains open, our staff remain doing important work,” Doughty told Sky News. “We retain a presence in Jerusalem ... and it is very important that work is able to continue.”

The closure order does not affect Britain’s embassy in Tel Aviv, which handles diplomatic relations with the Israeli government.

The consulate, located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, has handled Britain’s relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, as well as providing consular services to Palestinians.

The dispute marks a new low in relations that have deteriorated over the past three years. Britain has repeatedly criticised Israel over its conduct of the war in Gaza and Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which faces an election later this month, has accused Britain’s governing Labour Party of hostility towards Israel.