‘Era of Israeli restraint has ended’ - Israel orders 20 British diplomats out
Key Takeaways
- Israel ordered 20 British diplomats to leave and declared the East Jerusalem consulate closed.
- Further measures include restrictions on British security cooperation and entry bans on 12 individuals.
- Britain rejected the closure and said its diplomatic mission would continue operating under a new name.
Israel announced the closure of Britain's East Jerusalem consulate and further diplomatic restrictions following London's ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israel has ordered 20 British diplomats, including the Consul General, to leave the country and declared Britain's consulate in East Jerusalem closed amid a growing diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the decision on Thursday, saying the consulate's sign had already been removed. Only seven British diplomats will be permitted to remain in the building under strict restrictions.
"We did not wish to reach this point, but the actions of the Labour government have led us here," Saar declared.
The Israeli government also announced additional measures targeting Britain's diplomatic and security activities.
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These include removing British representatives from an international aid coordination centre for Gaza in Kiryat Gat and suspending British training activities for Palestinian Authority forces in the occupied West Bank.
Israel also imposed an entry ban on 12 British elected officials and other citizens.
"We are interested in good relations with all countries of the world, but any country that acts against Israel must know that there will be a price," Saar said.
"It will not benefit from it, but quite the contrary. The era of Israeli restraint has ended, both in the security realm and in the diplomatic realm," he concluded.
The measures follow Britain's decision in September to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
London had previously imposed sanctions targeting settlement activity and restrictions on certain arms export licences to Israel.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband rejected Israel's authority to shut the nearly 200-year-old consulate, which manages Britain's relations with Palestinians.
Miliband maintained that the diplomatic facility would continue operating under the name "UK Mission, Jerusalem".
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However, some staff members and their families have been temporarily withdrawn over safety concerns.
Britain said it would not introduce retaliatory measures while discussions with Israel continue over the mission's future.
Israel previously imposed diplomatic restrictions on Norway and Spain after both countries recognised a Palestinian state in 2024.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
