Exclusive: Zack Polanski says UK should defy Israel on fate of British Consulate in East Jerusalem
Exclusive: Zack Polanski says UK should defy Israel on fate of British Consulate in East Jerusalem Submitted by Imran Mulla on Wed, 09/30/2026 - 10:30 Green party leader’s comments to MEE will pile pressure on the Labour government not to comply with Israel’s order to close the consulate Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, addresses supporters during a rally in south London on 24 June (AFP)…
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has urged the UK government to defy Israel's order to close the British Consulate in East Jerusalem. Polanski claims that the UK must ignore Israel's sovereignty claim over the territory, stating, "East Jerusalem is illegally occupied Palestinian territory, and Israel has no sovereignty over it."
This comes after Israel ordered the consulate's closure in response to British sanctions on Israeli settlements. Polanski emphasized the consulate's importance as a diplomatic link with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. He warned that closing the consulate would isolate Palestinians and weaken Britain's ability to engage with them directly.
The UK government, led by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, is currently considering its options, expressing concern over the potential damage to the consulate's valuable work in the region. Miliband acknowledged the consulate's 200-year history in East Jerusalem but stressed the importance of maintaining UK presence in the area.
Written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
