What happened
The United Kingdom is withdrawing a significant number of diplomats from its Jerusalem mission due to a diplomatic dispute with Israel. The row was triggered after the new left-wing British government took power and imposed sanctions on Israeli settlements and individuals associated with them.
As a result of the dispute, 20 diplomats, including the Consul General and a British security team that was training Palestinian police in the West Bank, will be leaving the country. The British Consulate in Jerusalem will be renamed the British Mission and will have only seven accredited diplomatic staff remaining.
The British government had warned that it would retaliate against Israel's decision to close the consulate by expelling Israeli diplomats in London. However, a last-minute deal was reached to prevent the mission from being shut down altogether.
The diplomatic dispute is a result of the worsening relations between the UK and Israel since the Labour party took power in 2024. The UK government has stated that it does not accept Israel's claim to east Jerusalem, where the British Mission is located, and considers it occupied territory.
