Israel’s downgrading of UK consulate aims to tighten its hold on Jerusalem

Israel's recent move to downgrade the British consulate general in Jerusalem is primarily aimed at deterring the UK from imposing sanctions on settlements in occupied Palestine. This action aligns with the current Israeli government's ambitions to fully annex Jerusalem as its national capital, according to diplomatic and legal experts.

The UK mission in Jerusalem holds an unusual diplomatic status that dates back to before the founding of the state of Israel. It is rooted in a vision of Jerusalem as a neutral enclave under international control. Unlike other consulates around the world, the British consulate general is not a satellite of the British embassy in Tel Aviv; instead, its diplomats operate independently and report directly to London. This independence is seen as problematic by those in Israel who claim all of Jerusalem as their territory.

Israeli forces occupied East Jerusalem in 1967, and the Knesset passed a law annexing the city in 1980. However, this annexation has not been recognized by most of the world.

Gideon Sa’ar, the Israeli foreign minister, threatened to close the consulate general a month ago to deter the UK from proceeding with plans to bar trade with West Bank settlements and impose sanctions on companies that support them. In response, the UK threatened a mass expulsion of diplomats, but both countries appear to have stepped back from a full-blown diplomatic spat as Israel prepares for national elections on October 27.