Britain and Israel announced in a new agreement that the British diplomatic mission in Jerusalem, which has a history of nearly 200 years, will continue its operations, although on a smaller scale and under a new name. This agreement was signed following Israel's request to close the British consulate due to disputes over sanctions.
Renaming and Reduction of Diplomats
Under this agreement, the British consulate, established in 1839, will be renamed the "British Representation" in Jerusalem. Israel has announced that 20 British diplomats, including the consul general, will leave the consulate, and only 7 diplomats will remain in this representation with limited roles. Britain has also stated that it will temporarily withdraw some of its diplomats and intends to rebuild its presence in the future.
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Preventing a Diplomatic Crisis
This agreement seems to have prevented a major diplomatic crisis between the two friendly countries. In recent days, news sources reported that Britain was likely considering expelling Israeli diplomats if the consulate were closed. Last month, Israel set a 30-day deadline for the consulate's closure after London announced sanctions against Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's Foreign Minister, stated in a statement that the consulate's operations would officially end, but some British diplomats would be allowed to continue working there. Edward Miliband, the British Foreign Secretary, also emphasized that his country does not accept Israel's legal right to close the consulate. This consulate is located in a part of Jerusalem that Israel captured in the 1967 war and subsequently unilaterally annexed, an action that most countries do not recognize.
Miliband also added: "Our consulate building will not be closed and will henceforth be known as the British Representation in Jerusalem." He stressed that this representation will continue to provide vital services and cooperate with the Palestinian people.
Impact on Bilateral Relations
This agreement, despite existing tensions, seems not to have harmed the historical and long-standing relations between Britain and Israel. Last week, Britain's National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, visited Israel to prevent the closure of the consulate. Steven Doughty, the British Foreign Secretary for the Middle East, told the media that Britain is in ongoing discussions with the Israeli government and has expressed regret over Israel's actions regarding its consulate.
Ultimately, it should be noted that this agreement reflects the diplomatic efforts of both countries to maintain important relations and cooperation in the current sensitive circumstances. The closure of the consulate would have had negative impacts on the relations between the two countries, and this agreement may help sustain cooperation.
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