Former UK attorney general says Israel's closure of consulate is illegal
A senior legal figure has concluded that Israel was furthering its agenda to annex East Jerusalem when it closed the British consulate there this month. Dominic Grieve KC, who was the government’s top legal adviser from 2010 to 2014, said the closure was “an unlawful assertion of Israeli sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem ”. The move came after the UK government announced a ban on trading…
Former UK attorney general Dominic Grieve KC has stated that Israel's closure of its consulate in East Jerusalem is illegal and part of the country's agenda to annex the territory. Grieve, who was the government's top legal adviser from 2010 to 2014, argues that Israel's closure is an "unlawful assertion of Israeli sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem" and is a response to the UK's sanctions on goods and services from illegal settlements.
He says the closure should be challenged as an attempt to exercise powers beyond those permitted to an occupier.
The closure of the consulate, which has been in place for nearly 200 years, is seen as a significant blow to the UK's diplomatic efforts in the region. Sir Vincent Fean, a former consul general in Jerusalem, raises concerns about the legal implications for the UK, as challenging Israel's actions through the Israeli Supreme Court would contradict the UK's legal position.
The UK is exploring all options to prevent the closure, including diplomatic measures and legal challenges through international courts, but acknowledges that these options are limited and slow.
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