However, the UK insisted the building would continue to operate and maintain its diplomatic status, under an agreement to downgrade its name and reduce staff numbers.
asserted
building → insist → numbers
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband denied the Israeli government had the legal right to shut down the consulate and said the newly-named UK Mission “will continue to deliver vital services and our work with the Palestinian people”.
asserted
Mission → deny → people
He said a number of staff had been temporarily withdrawn “to ensure their safety”.
asserted
number → say → safety
The UK will seek the return of all diplomatic staff, now reduced to seven, after the October 27 Israeli election, and is keeping the threat of strong reciprocal measures on the table if discussions with Israel do not prove fruitful, it is understood.
asserted
it → seek → Israel
Israel last month threatened to shutter the consulate, which represents the UK in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, within 30 days of the UK’s announcement of sanctions which sparked a diplomatic row.
asserted
which → threaten → row
As the deadline expired on Thursday, Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar said the British consulate in Jerusalem was “ending its activities today”, with the sign identifying the consulate having been removed.
asserted
sign → expire → consulate
Mr Sa’ar wrote on X: “The British Consulate in Jerusalem ended its role today.
asserted
Consulate → write → role
The Consul General and 19 diplomats are ending their assignments and will leave Israel.”
asserted
General → end → Israel
He acknowledged that the building belonged to the British Government, saying Israel had authorised it “to operate a task force of only seven diplomats from the building, which ceased to function as a consulate today”, and that the remaining staff would have “a very limited scope of activity”.
asserted
staff → acknowledge → activity
He claimed that there had been “no genuine dialogue” with UK ministers in recent years despite the security and intelligence cooperation between the two nations.
asserted
He → claim → nations
“We did not want to reach this point, but the actions of the UK Labour Government brought us here,” Mr Sa’ar said.
asserted
Sa’ar → want → us
Israeli media had reported that the UK had threatened to expel up to 27 Israeli diplomats from London if the closure went ahead.
asserted
closure → report → London
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But Mr Sa’ar said: “In accordance with the understandings we reached, no measures will be taken against Israel as a result of the implementation of the decisions.”
asserted
measures → read → decisions
The Foreign Office insisted the UK Mission retained all existing privileges, documentation and its diplomatic status, and had merely been downgraded in name and numbers under a deal with the Israeli government.
asserted
Mission → insist → government
In his statement, Mr Miliband said: “We have been clear that we do not accept that the Government of Israel has the legal right to close the British Consulate General in Jerusalem, which has been there for nearly 200 years.
asserted
which → say → years
“The UK Government reiterates its long-standing view that East Jerusalem is occupied territory.
asserted
Jerusalem → reiterate → view
“Following discussions with the government of Israel, our Consulate General building will not be closing, and will be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem from today.
asserted
building → follow → today
“The UK Mission, Jerusalem is independent, operational, and will continue to deliver vital services and our work with the Palestinian people.”
asserted
Mission → continue → people
The Foreign Secretary said the UK Mission would maintain long-standing British presence and the UK’s role in support of a two-state solution.
asserted
Mission → say → solution
He added: “Without an understanding, we would not have the necessary assurances for the security and protections of our staff and premises.
“
asserted
we → add → staff
Accordingly, the UK has temporarily withdrawn a number of staff and families to ensure their safety and security.
asserted
UK → withdraw → safety
“We will work in the coming months to build back up our presence, and we will not take reciprocal action while such discussions are under way and credible.
asserted
discussions → work → way
“The UK stands steadfast by the measures we took on 8 September, in concert with the international community, in support of a two-state solution to deliver peace and security for the people of Israel and Palestine.”
asserted
we → stand → Israel
The UK aims to resume talks with whatever iteration of the Israeli government that emerges after the country’s election later this month and to build its full presence in East Jerusalem back up as soon as possible.
asserted
that → aim → Jerusalem
Pressed on the confusion caused by Israel declaring the consulate closed and the UK saying its diplomatic presence remained, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty denied it amounted to a political fudge.
asserted
it → press → fudge
“Absolutely not,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, adding: “You can see what’s changed in terms of a name, but crucially, the presence remains.”
asserted
presence → tell → name
Mr Doughty said the building remained open under an “agreement” with Israel, but that there was “an ongoing discussion” between the two countries.
asserted
building → say → countries
He added: “We deeply regret the steps that they set out a few weeks ago in response to our measures.”
asserted
they → add → measures
Israel’s move came in retaliation for the UK’s announcement on September 8 of a ban on imports from illegal settlements in the West Bank and sanctions on individuals and firms providing services to settlers.
asserted
move → come → settlers
Mr Miliband, unveiling the sanctions, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of turning a blind eye to the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians.
asserted
Miliband → unveil → Palestinians
Both Israel and the US criticised the UK’s stance.
asserted
Israel → criticise → stance
The consulate, which was first established in 1838, handles UK relations with Palestinians in the city as well as in the West Bank and Gaza.
asserted
which → establish → Bank
The Aporia
