Has Israel shut the UK consulate in East Jerusalem – or downgraded it?

British Foreign Secretary Miliband said the consulate building would remain but would called ‘UK Mission, Jerusalem’. Save Share The British government has said it will retain its presence in occupied East Jerusalem after Israel removed the signage of its consulate amid deteriorating diplomatic relations. The removal of the signage comes as Israel announced that 20 British diplomats, including the consul general, would have to leave the country and return home. Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, said on Thursday that the consulate building would remain but would be downgraded to the “UK Mission, Jerusalem”. The Israeli government’s decision to close the consulate followed Miliband’s announcement last month that Britain would ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Here’s what we know: In a post on X, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar reiterated on Thursday morning that “no action can be taken against Israel without Israel taking appropriate retaliatory measures”. In retaliation for the sanctions on the occupied West Bank settlements, Saar outlined the four steps that Israel was taking against the UK, including: “We did not want to come to this, but the actions of the Labour government led us here,” Saar wrote, adding that the sanctions and the “hostile rhetoric” of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians had forced their hand against the British government. “The British Consulate in Jerusalem ended its duties today. The Consul General and 20 diplomats are ending their duties and will leave Israel,” he said, adding that while the building is the property of the British government, Israel has allowed them to operate a task force of seven diplomats in the building with a “very limited scope of activity”. The minister explained that the decision was also based on an understanding reached with the British government last night. Yes. In a statement, Miliband said that the British government had been “clear” that it did not accept Israel’s decision to close its consulate, which has been around for nearly 200 years, reiterating its “longstanding view that East Jerusalem is occupied territory.” “The UK Mission, Jerusalem is independent, operational, and will continue to deliver vital services and our work with the Palestinian people. “This will ensure that we maintain our longstanding British presence and the UK’s role in support of a two-state solution....