UK Keeps Jerusalem Consulate Building Open as Mission After Israel Orders Closure
London rejects Israel’s legal right to shut nearly "200-year-old diplomatic presence," while Jerusalem says the consulate has ceased operating and links the move to UK sanctions on Israeli settlements
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Britain said Thursday that its Consulate General in East Jerusalem will remain open as an independent “UK Mission, Jerusalem,” after Israel ordered the diplomatic facility to close in retaliation for British measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK does not accept that Israel has the legal authority to close the nearly 200-year-old British diplomatic presence in Jerusalem, while reiterating London’s longstanding position that "East Jerusalem is occupied territory."
“Following discussions with the Government of Israel, our Consulate General building will not be closing, and will be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem from today,” Miliband said in a statement.
He said the new mission would remain independent and operational and would continue providing vital services and working with Palestinians, allowing Britain to maintain its presence in Jerusalem and support for a two-state solution.
Miliband said Britain had temporarily withdrawn some staff and their families because it had not received the necessary assurances concerning the security and protection of British personnel and premises. London would seek to rebuild its presence in the coming months, he said, while refraining from reciprocal action against Israel as talks continue.
We retain our long-standing presence in Jerusalem. My statement: https://t.co/ABnaopUBwU
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) October 8, 2026
Israel’s position
Israel, however, said Thursday that the British Consulate General had ceased functioning in that capacity, with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar saying the consul general and 19 other diplomats would end their assignments and leave Israel.
According to Sa’ar, a reduced British diplomatic presence of seven staff members would be permitted to continue operating from the building, but on a limited basis and without the status of a consulate.
The dispute stems from Israel’s September decision to close the British consulate in response to measures announced by London against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israel has described the British actions as hostile measures against Israel, while the UK and most of the international community regard the settlements as "illegal under international law." Israel disputes that legal characterization.
The Israeli government had set October 8 as the deadline for the consulate’s closure. On Thursday, workers removed signs identifying the building as the “British Consulate General,” although the British flag remained flying over the premises.
Why Israel ordered the closure?
Israel’s decision was directly linked to a series of British measures announced on Sept. 8 against Israeli settlements and individuals associated with settler violence.
London introduced a ban on trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and imposed sanctions as part of a broader effort to pressure Israel over settlement expansion and the treatment of Palestinians.
Israel responded by ordering the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem and taking additional measures against some British officials and lawmakers.
The British Consulate General is particularly sensitive because it operates separately from the UK Embassy in Tel Aviv and has traditionally handled Britain’s relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, as well as providing consular services to British nationals in those areas.
The diplomatic dispute also reflects a fundamental disagreement over Jerusalem’s status. Britain recognizes Israel but does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem, maintaining that its final status must be determined through negotiations.
The UK has consistently regarded East Jerusalem as "occupied territory" and has maintained its consular presence there for decades.
The British diplomatic presence in Jerusalem dates back to 1838, more than a century before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The consulate, located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, has remained separate from the British Embassy in Tel Aviv and has served as a key channel for Britain’s engagement with Palestinians.
The latest arrangement therefore represents a compromise rather than a full resolution of the dispute: Israel maintains that the consulate itself has ended, while Britain says the same building remains an operational UK diplomatic mission.
Despite the dispute, London has said it will not take reciprocal measures against Israeli diplomats while discussions continue.
The UK government has also reaffirmed that its broader policy toward Israel and the Palestinians remains focused on supporting a two-state solution aimed at achieving long-term peace and security for both peoples.