According to the Foreign Secretary, following discussions with the Israeli government, the consulate building will not be closed but will instead be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem.
The United Kingdom Government has announced that its Consulate General in Jerusalem will remain open but operate under a new name, the “UK Mission, Jerusalem,” after discussions with the Israeli government over the status of the long-standing British diplomatic facility.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK does not accept that the Israeli government has the legal authority to close the British Consulate General in Jerusalem, which he said has existed for nearly 200 years.
In a statement dated October 8, 2026, Miliband reiterated Britain’s position that East Jerusalem is occupied territory under international law, putting London at odds with Israel over the status and future of the diplomatic mission.
“We have been clear that we do not accept that the Government of Israel has the legal right to close the British Consulate General in Jerusalem, which has been there for nearly 200 years,” Miliband said.
“The UK government reiterates its long-standing view that East Jerusalem is occupied territory.”
Jerusalem
According to the Foreign Secretary, following discussions with the Israeli government, the consulate building will not be closed but will instead be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem.
He said the mission would remain independent and operational, continuing to provide vital services and maintain Britain’s engagement with Palestinians.
“The UK Mission, Jerusalem is independent, operational, and will continue to deliver vital services and our work with the Palestinian people,” he said.
Miliband said maintaining the diplomatic presence was important to preserving Britain’s longstanding role in Jerusalem and supporting efforts toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“This will ensure that we maintain our longstanding British presence and the UK’s role in support of a two-state solution,” he added.
However, the UK Government said it has temporarily withdrawn some diplomatic staff and their families from Jerusalem over concerns about security and the protection of British personnel and property.
“Without an understanding, we would not have the necessary assurances for the security and protections of our staff and premises,” Miliband said.
“Accordingly, the UK has temporarily withdrawn a number of staff and families to ensure their safety and security.”
The British Government said it would seek to restore its full diplomatic presence in the coming months, while avoiding reciprocal measures against Israel as discussions continue.
“We will work in the coming months to build back presence, and we will not take reciprocal action while such discussions are underway and credible,” Miliband stated.
The dispute comes amid continuing international disagreements over Israel’s policies in Jerusalem and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly over the status of East Jerusalem.
The UK Government has continued to support a negotiated two-state solution, under which Israelis and Palestinians would have secure and internationally recognised states.
Miliband also reaffirmed Britain’s support for measures taken by the UK on September 3 in coordination with the international community, saying they were aimed at advancing a two-state solution and delivering greater security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
“The UK stands steadfast by the measures we took on 3 September in concert with the international community, in support of a two-state solution to deliver greater security for the people of Israel and Palestine,” he said.
The latest development highlights the growing diplomatic tensions surrounding Jerusalem, whose status remains one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said on Thursday that the British Consulate in East Jerusalem would cease operations, as Israel retaliated against UK sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
In a social media post, Sa’ar said 20 diplomats were “ending their assignments” and would leave Israel. A small “task force of no more than seven diplomats with a very limited scope of activity” would be allowed to continue working from the building.
“We did not want it to come to this, but the Labour Government’s actions have led us here,” Sa’ar wrote.
His British counterpart, Ed Miliband, said the consulate would not close. Instead, it would become the UK Mission, Jerusalem, from Thursday.
Israel said in September that it would shut the consulate in response to British sanctions on illegal West Bank settlements.
Speaking to parliament early last month, Miliband announced an “import ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories.” He also accused “settler terrorists” of carrying out “ethnic cleansing” in parts of the West Bank.
Sa’ar rejected Miliband’s comments, calling the accusations “outrageous lies.”
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the measures as “carefully judged, targeted steps that are not aimed at the Israeli people, but at the unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government.”