Labour MP Emily Thornberry urges Britain to defy Israeli order to close Jerusalem consulate

Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the UK's influential Foreign Affairs Committee, has urged Britain to defy Israel's order to close the consulate in occupied East Jerusalem. The closure, which Thornberry deems as "illegal," was reportedly being watched closely by other consulates such as France and Spain. Thornberry believes the closure is a "blatant retaliation against Britain for standing up for international law."

The loss of the consulate could disrupt Britain's diplomatic presence at the annual Remembrance Day service at Mount Scopus, and may also put the future of the British Council office in East Jerusalem under threat. Many Palestinians consider the closure a victory for Israel and a disaster for Palestinians, given the consulate's role in providing witness to human rights abuses.