UK and Israel broker compromise over East Jerusalem consulate
Both sides claim a win — but relations have soured over British plans to sanction West Bank settlements.
In a diplomatic standoff, the United Kingdom and Israel have reached a compromise to avert the complete closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem. Most diplomats will be temporarily withdrawn from the post, which will now function as a UK mission in the occupied territory. However, Israel has refrained from shutting down the consulate entirely.
Both nations have hailed this development as a positive outcome, according to Thursday's reports. The dispute revolved around the UK's plans to sanction illegal settlements in the West Bank. U.K. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced that the diplomats and their families were being "temporarily withdrawn" for their safety. He pledged to rebuild the UK's presence in the region over the coming months while maintaining a stance of non-reciprocity during ongoing discussions.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar outlined a list of diplomatic actions taken against Britain, asserting that "it is not possible to act against Israel without Israel taking appropriate measures in response."
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
