Israel does not possess the legal right to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem, according to advice given to the UK Foreign Office by former Attorney General Dominic Grieve. The planned closure is Israel's response to the UK's ban on goods from Israeli settlements.
The dispute over the British consulate in East Jerusalem highlights ongoing tensions regarding the legal status of occupied territories and the assertion of sovereignty in the region. It underscores the diplomatic complexities and potential for retaliatory measures between nations over settlement policies and international law.
Former UK Attorney General Dominic Grieve has advised the UK Foreign Office that Israel does not possess the legal right to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem. Israel had stated its intention to shut the consulate on October 8, a move framed as a response to the UK's recent ban on trade with goods from Israeli settlements.
Grieve, who served as attorney general from 2010 to 2014, argued that Israel, as an occupying power, cannot assert sovereign control over East Jerusalem, which is recognized by the UN and most member states, including the UK, as occupied Palestinian territory. He suggested the UK should challenge the decision in the courts, asserting that Israel is attempting to impose sovereign control over the city, a right it does not possess.
The UK mission in Jerusalem dates back to 1838, predating the state of Israel, and operates separately from the embassy in Tel Aviv. Its consul general reports directly to the Foreign Office and covers Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. Grieve contends that maintaining the consulate in East Jerusalem, especially after recognizing the state of Palestine, preserves the UK's position that Jerusalem's final status is yet to be determined and does not concede Israeli sovereignty.
In a separate but related action, Israel announced it would revoke the credentials of Dutch diplomats, also in response to the Netherlands' ban on imports from Israeli settlements. This move could effectively bar them from Israeli-controlled East Jerusalem and potentially force the closure of their representative office in Ramallah. The Dutch ban on imports from occupied Palestine came into effect on September 22. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar asserted Israeli sovereignty over the entire city of Jerusalem in response to the consulate closure, a claim that the UN Security Council has expressly stated Israel does not possess.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.