[Salon] Israel tells UK to close East Jerusalem consulate within 30 days

[Chas Freeman <cwfresidence@gmail.com>]

FM: John Whitbeck

As reported in the article at the link transmitted immediately below, the Israeli government has retaliated against the British government for complying with international law by, among other things, ordering the British government to close its consulate in East Jerusalem, which was established in 1838, within 30 days.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/9/israel-tells-uk-to-close-east-jerusalem-consulate-within-30-days

However, since (i) the UK government has recognized the State of Palestine, whose internationally recognized borders, as confirmed by the United Nations when the State of Palestine was accepted as a UN observer state in 2012, encompass all Palestinian lands occupied by Israel in 1967, including East Jerusalem, and (ii) the UK government has now explicitly accepted the International Court of Justice's 2024 ruling that Israel's presence in any and all of the Palestinian lands occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, is unlawful, there is no legal reason for the UK government to view Israel as having any legal right to order anyone, let alone the UK government, to do anything in East Jerusalem.

Furthermore, transmitted below is the "UK Position on Jerusalem" as posted on the website of British Consulate General Jerusalem, which makes clear that the UK does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over West Jerusalem and regards East Jerusalem as being under Israeli occupation.

In these circumstances, it would be utterly incoherent and shameful for the British government to comply with the Israeli government's illegal order.

The United Kingdom should publicly refuse to do so and, thereby, challenge the Israeli government to attack British sovereign territory.

British Consulate General
Jerusalem

British Consulate General Jerusalem

• English
• العربيَّة

Part of:

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

News:

Palestine and the UK

The British Consulate General in Jerusalem represents the UK government in Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza.

We work on political, commercial, security and economic interests between the UK and Palestine.

The British Consulate General Jerusalem provides consular assistance to British nationals in Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza.

UK position on Jerusalem

The position of the UK government has remained constant since April 1950, when the UK extended de jure recognition to the State of Israel, but withheld recognition of sovereignty over Jerusalem pending a final determination of its status. We recognise Israel’s de facto authority over West Jerusalem. In line with Security Council Resolution 242 (1967) and subsequent Council resolutions, we regard East Jerusalem as under Israeli occupation.

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