Israel to close the British Consulate General in Jerusalem, which has operated for nearly 200 years

Great Britain will withdraw 20 diplomats from Israel, including the Consul General in East Jerusalem, under an agreement reached between the two countries following London's imposition of sanctions against Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

This was announced by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar.

According to him, the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem will cease operations in its previous format. At the same time, Great Britain will maintain its presence in its building, where seven diplomats will continue to work. However, the institution will no longer perform consular functions.

Signs bearing the inscriptions "British Consulate General" and designating the consular section have already been removed from the building.

"We have established a clear principle: Israel will not allow actions to be taken against it without appropriate retaliatory measures," Sa'ar stated.

At the same time, the agreement provides for the retention of all Israeli diplomats in their posts in London. Earlier, according to media reports, Great Britain had considered expelling 27 Israeli diplomats in response.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, in turn, stated that London does not recognize the right of the Israeli government to close the British Consulate General in Jerusalem, which has operated for nearly 200 years.