In brief
The UK has announced that the majority of its diplomats will depart the British consulate in East Jerusalem following Israel's decision to shut it down in response to UK sanctions on Israeli settlements. While 20 diplomats and the Consul General are leaving, a small team of seven remains in the building to maintain a limited range of activities. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has confirmed that the mission will continue to work with Palestinian people despite temporary staff withdrawals for security reasons. The situation highlights the diplomatic tensions surrounding settlement laws considered illegal under international law. Meanwhile, Israel continues to press for closure to further pressure the UK.
Most UK diplomats will leave the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem, Israel says, but the UK insists the building "will not be closing", and will operate as a "UK Mission".
"We did not want it to come to this," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on social media, as he said 20 diplomats and the Consul General would leave Israel while a task force of seven could remain in the building "with a very limited scope of activity".
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband responded that some staff had been "temporarily withdrawn" for security reasons, but stressed the mission will "work with the Palestinian people".
Israel said in September it would shut the consulate, in retaliation for UK sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank which are illegal under international law.
