Britain’s consulate general in East Jerusalem will continue operating with a reduced staff as the UK Mission, Jerusalem, London said after talks with Israel. Israel said the consulate’s status had ended and about 20 British diplomats would leave the country.
The arrangement is a compromise after Israel demanded the consulate’s closure in response to Britain’s ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Associated Press and Reuters reported that the consulate sign was taken down, but the building would remain open with a small diplomatic team.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said seven staff members would remain with a limited remit. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the mission would continue to work with Palestinians and support British nationals in the area.
Israel announced the closure order in early September and gave 30 days for it to take effect, setting an Oct. 8 deadline. The Times reported that revoking the consulate’s diplomatic status could affect about 30 diplomats. Later reports by the Associated Press and Reuters said 20 staff members would leave Israel while seven would continue working at the mission.
Britain said it would not expel Israeli diplomats in retaliation for now and planned to rebuild its presence in the city. The UK introduced the trade ban on settlements in early September.