Israeli settlers protest UK sanctions outside consulate in East Jerusalem

On September 8, 2026, a group of Israeli settlers and far-right activists staged a protest outside the British consulate in East Jerusalem. Their demand was clear: the closure of the consulate, which they view as a symbol of UK support for Israeli settlements. The protest was organized by Arieh King, a prominent far-right settler and dual British-Israeli citizen.

King, who leads the United with Arieh King faction on the Jerusalem municipal council, had previously called for various actions against the British consulate, including removing its signs and disrupting its operations. The UK had recently imposed sanctions on trade linked to illegal Israeli settlements, targeting Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank.

Eleven other countries had also joined in the sanctions. King, who has advocated for the removal of Palestinians and the Unrwa agency from Jerusalem, proposed several measures against the consulate, including cutting its water supply and preventing diplomatic staff from using reserved parking spaces. He also suggested renaming King George Street, a main thoroughfare in Jerusalem, with a Jewish-Israeli name.