Israel does not have right to close UK consulate in Jerusalem, Foreign Office advised
Former attorney general Dominic Grieve says Israel is not entitled to shut mission in occupied Palestinian territory
TL;DR
- Former UK Attorney General Dominic Grieve advised the Foreign Office that Israel does not have a legal right to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem.
- Grieve stated Israel is asserting a right it does not possess as an occupying power to impose sovereign control over East Jerusalem.
- Israel's planned closure of the consulate is in response to the UK's ban on trade with goods from Israeli settlements.
- Israel also plans to revoke credentials of Dutch diplomats in response to the Netherlands' ban on imports from Israeli settlements.
- The UK consulate in Jerusalem dates back to 1838 and predates the state of Israel.
- The closure would hinder aid, oversight, and reporting from the West Bank and Gaza, disproportionately affecting Palestinians.
- Grieve suggests the UK should challenge Israel's decision in court.