Most UK diplomats to leave East Jerusalem consulate, Israel says, as Miliband says 'vital services' to remain - BBC News                            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw33xd6vegnno)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw33xd6vegnno)  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw33xd6vegnno)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw33xd6vegnno)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-36.413a37b227.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-48.010dc96bcf.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-57.1fcd0dc805.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-60.52f68a148f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-72.f155fdb25f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-76.cb5ee392d4.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-96.35ee2d1e20.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-114.7ccdf53cba.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-120.73e20442a9.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-128.060d346f09.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-144.e08bc23631.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-152.4de1981be0.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-180.1a18cb7b72.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-192.3ac042fa43.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-384.728e3a03d3.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-512.685da29e9e.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-16.8a240ceacc.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-32.5cf4e6db02.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/manifest.11b0cb15658c4719a2c19e25644577223adaa7b2.json)   (https://www.bbc.com)   BBC Homepage    (cw33xd6vegnno@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#main-heading) Skip to content  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/) Accessibility Help          (https://account.bbc.com/account?lang=en-GB&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fcw33xd6vegnno)    Your account       (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (cw33xd6vegnno@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)    More menu     (cw33xd6vegnno@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)   More menu    (https://www.bbc.com/search?d=NEWS_GNL)    Search BBC      (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (cw33xd6vegnno@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#more-menu-button)   Close menu          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news)   BBC News      (cw33xd6vegnno@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-menu)    Menu  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news) Home   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cmj34zmwm1zt) Climate   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/us_and_canada) US & Canada   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk) UK   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business) Business   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology) Tech   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment) Science   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment_and_arts) Entertainment & Arts   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health) Health     (cw33xd6vegnno@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-more-menu)    More     (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in_pictures) In Pictures   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/bbcverify) BBC Verify   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat) Newsbeat         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/africa) Africa   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/asia) Asia   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/australia) Australia   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/europe) Europe   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/latin_america) Latin America   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/middle_east) Middle East           Most UK diplomats to leave East Jerusalem consulate, Israel says, as Miliband says 'vital services' to remain      (A wide shot of the British consulate entrance, with cars approaching. Picture taken on 8 October 2026.)    Image source,  Reuters      By Adam Goldsmith  and (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c63d84969y6t) James Landale  ,  Diplomatic correspondent     Published 8 October 2026, 07:35 BST        Updated 1 hour ago       Most diplomats will leave the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem, Israel says, but the UK insists the building "will not be closing", and will operate as a "UK Mission".  "We did not want it to come to this," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on social media, as he said 20 diplomats and the consul general would leave Israel while a task force of seven could remain in the building "with a very limited scope of activity". UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband responded that some staff had been "temporarily withdrawn" for security reasons, but stressed the mission will "work with the Palestinian people". Israel said in September it would shut the consulate, in retaliation for UK sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank which are illegal under international law. The UK government had made last-ditch efforts to persuade Israel not to close the British consulate ahead of Thursday's deadline, after the Israeli government said it would close the consulate within 30 days of the UK sanctions announcement. The consulate, which was first established in 1838, handles UK relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem as well as in the West Bank and Gaza. It is distinct from the UK embassy in Tel Aviv, which is the UK's main diplomatic hub with Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the country had implemented measures announced on 8 September in response to UK sanctions. "The British Consulate in Jerusalem is closing its operations today. Accordingly, the sign of the British Consulate in Jerusalem has been removed," he wrote on social media. However, the British flag could still be seen outside on Thursday morning, and several staff were seen entering. Saar said talks with the UK government had resulted in agreement on certain principles, including that "the consul general and 20 diplomats (including the consul general) are ending their duties and will leave Israel." But Saar acknowledged that the building is "the property of the British government" and said Israel had authorised "a task force of only seven diplomats with a very limited scope of activity" to operate in the building. As a result of this agreement with the UK, he said, "no steps will be taken against Israel". Israeli media had been reporting that the UK had threatened to expel Israeli diplomats from London - raising the prospect of further damaging bilateral relations. This agreement is a compromise of sorts and means - for the moment - the heat has been taken out of a dispute that could have further worsened UK-Israel relations. Israel can claim that the British Consulate is "closing its operations". A score of British diplomats, including the consul general, are leaving. But Miliband says they are going only temporarily and only for their safety and security. He continues to insist Israel has no legal right to close the consulate. "The UK government reiterates its long-standing view that East Jerusalem is occupied territory," Miliband wrote in a statement. Following discussions with the Israeli government, he said, the building "will not be closing" and will be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem from Thursday. However Miliband said an understanding had not been reached on "necessary assurances for the security and protections of our staff and premises". "Accordingly the UK has temporarily withdrawn a number of staff and families to ensure their safety and security," he added. The Foreign Office said the seven UK diplomats who remain will be "independent and operational" and continue to deliver vital services. Israel said they will provide "only a limited scope of activity". FCDO sources described the deal as a "good outcome" because the entire operation was not closing, as had been threatened. They said that maintaining a UK presence would help build back the mission in the future. Speaking to the Today programme, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty explained: "The building remains open. We retain our presence, we continue having staff able to do important work engaging with the Palestinian Authority... and we are engaging in ongoing conversations with Israel on this matter." Asked if this was a political fudge, Doughty said "you can see what's changed in terms of a name but crucially our presence remains", adding that the "policies towards this Israeli government, which we fundamentally disagree with" would continue. The foreign secretary made clear the UK reserved the right to take what he called "reciprocal action" but said he would not do so while "discussions are under way and credible". That means any UK retaliation is unlikely before Israel's elections later this month.      Related topics  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cny67yq47ynt) Jerusalem  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c302m85q5ljt) Israel  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cxvmk3z8mn9t) West Bank  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/middle_east) Middle East           (vertical video collection) The video playlist   Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC      Previous     Next         1:27 Workers paid under £1 an hour to make football shirts. 00:01:27, play video Workers paid under £1 an hour to make football shirts    (A display case full of national soccer jerseys at an Adidas store that sells soccer jerseys.)           1:50 Men jailed for raping girl after Snapchat grooming. 00:01:50, play video Men jailed for raping girl after Snapchat grooming    (Three mugshots of men who were jailed)           1:36 'I had to crawl through a busy train like an animal' 00:01:36, play video 'I had to crawl through a busy train like an animal'    (A woman with short brown hair sits with a dog in on her knee)           1:02 What caused this huge ship fire off a Russian seaside resort? 00:01:02, play video What caused this huge ship fire off a Russian seaside resort?    (A huge plume of smoke rises from a burning oil tanker and burning oil on the sea at the Russia resort of Sochi.)           1:19 France suspends police use of stun grenades after boy loses hand. 00:01:19, play video France suspends police use of stun grenades after boy loses hand    (Riots on the streets of France with a bin on the floor with smoke behind it)           1:21 How this influencer got millions of views without existing. 00:01:21, play video How this influencer got millions of views without existing    (Man with blonde bob pointing at camera)           0:49 The big test facing Badenoch after her conference speech. 00:00:49, play video The big test facing Badenoch after her conference speech    (Badenoch smiling at conference)           1:08 'My father abused me in the countryside. I felt trapped' 00:01:08, play video 'My father abused me in the countryside. I felt trapped'    (A woman with black hair wearing a woolly-collared coat and looking off camera.)           1:05 Man sentenced to death over Facebook comment. 00:01:05, play video Man sentenced to death over Facebook comment    (A man with a full beard and moustache looks directly at the camera. He is wearing a bright blue open-necked shirt.)           1:04 Southampton manager learns fate after 'Spygate' scandal. 00:01:04, play video Southampton manager learns fate after 'Spygate' scandal    (Southampton football manager Tonda Eckert staring into distance)           0:41 What time the Sun will start setting where you are. 00:00:41, play video What time the Sun will start setting where you are    (The sun setting above London skyline)           0:40 Pupils told to wear more layers to cut on heating bills. 00:00:40, play video Pupils told to wear more layers to cut on heating bills    (A young boy wearing a wooly hat and coat smiles into the camera.)           1:14 Christa Pike 'conscious' after failed lethal injections. 00:01:14, play video Christa Pike 'conscious' after failed lethal injections    (Christa Pike has long curly brown hair and stares directly into the camera.)           1:32 Should some sites of Oct 7 attacks be memorialised or rebuilt? 00:01:32, play video Should some sites of Oct 7 attacks be memorialised or rebuilt?    (A woman with long curly dark blonde hair smiles at someone off-camera. She is wearing a black tank top.)           0:51 Should you be worried about the Asos hack? 00:00:51, play video Should you be worried about the Asos hack?    (Smartphone screenshot of the notification hackers sent to customers.)           1:02 How to tell your children you're splitting up. 00:01:02, play video How to tell your children you're splitting up    (Two children and two adults sit on a couch)           0:41 Young Tories say how Britain could be better. 00:00:41, play video Young Tories say how Britain could be better    (A young woman with long brown hair talks to the camera. She is wearing a dark-coloured top.)           0:45 PCs who used Taser and baton on amputee, 92, sacked. 00:00:45, play video PCs who used Taser and baton on amputee, 92, sacked    (Body-worn camera footage of a man sitting in a chair. Someone out of shot is raising a baton towards him.)           0:48 Temperatures set to drop across UK. 00:00:48, play video Temperatures set to drop across UK    (A woman wearing a dark blue coat smiles as she battles the wind)           1:22 What Russia says about death of plague lab researcher. 00:01:22, play video What Russia says about death of plague lab researcher    (A satellite image of a Russian plague research lab.)               Top stories (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw203n6emde8o) Royal Navy sailor charged with spying for a foreign power     Published 1 hour ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3zxjdw5ywgpo) Asos hackers took more personal details than first revealed, BBC finds     Published 27 minutes ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw33xd6vegnno) Most UK diplomats to leave East Jerusalem consulate, Israel says, as Miliband says 'vital services' to remain     Published 1 hour ago                More to explore (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62kwyy3wg43o) My magical daughter went to school and never came home - I want everyone to remember her      (Aaron Huxter (left) with his daughter Olivia-Grace. Aaron has blue eyes, short brown hair and a bushy beard. Olivia wears a yellow jumper, has her brown hair in pigtails and smiles at the camera.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy8l7n1jn9mo) 'You're made to feel like a criminal' - cancer survivor screamed at for stoma at airport      (Paul Scanlon and his wife Deborah standing on the balcony of a cruise ship. They are a middle-aged couple - Paul is bald and is wearing dark, circular glasses, a white shirt, black waistcoat and a red bow tie. He has his arm around Deborah who has horn-rimmed Ray-Ban sunglasses on and has dark shoulder-length hair. She is wearing a peach, sleeveless dress with a leaf pattern on.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq62j2lzlnm8o) We spent thousands on a Tui river cruise but ended up on coach trips      (A photo showing the inside of a coach, and the backs of passengers' heads as they sit in their seats. Some are looking out the window.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxvgd65m735mo) Could Christa Pike face execution again and by what method?      (Christa Pike photographed in court in Tennessee)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm4g1pjrd5ewo) She made India fall in love with women's cricket - now her era as captain is over      (Harmanpreet Kaur of India wearing a blue jersey with orange details reacts at the coin-toss)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cmp8g7gel3xlo)    How toxic haze is causing Singapore’s landmarks to disappear. Video How toxic haze is causing Singapore’s landmarks to disappear           (Tessa Wong wearing an orange singlet pointing to the Singapore skyline behind her.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm3el33kvn3wo) The Papers: 'Kemi's family home pledge' and 'Badenoch invokes core Tory values'      (A composite image of the front pages of the Daily Mail and the Financial Times)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cw5ynm4e0d68o) Two icons, a glorious farewell and a potentially bitter ending      (Lionel Messi waves, Cristiano Ronaldo sat in dug out)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckqxnw01z4n3o) Stephen King's Carrie returns to explore the horrors of social media      (A still from Carrie shows the main character smiling as she stands on a stage wearing a tiara and a white prom dress. Gold and white stars fill the background behind her, and a spotlight illuminates her.)             Elsewhere on the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0031xrp?at_mid=IuxXst2lrL&at_campaign=Fury&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m0031xrp&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Fury&at_bbc_team=BBC) Brad Pitt stars as a tank commander on a dangerous mission in WWII        (Fury)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0pc1gkl?at_mid=8tbgG1n5u5&at_campaign=Murder_They_Wrote_with_Laura_Whitmore_and_Iain_Stirling_134_The_Josacine_Affair&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p0gq38lc&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Murder_They_Wrote_with_Laura_Whitmore_and_Iain_Stirling_134_The_Josacine_Affair&at_bbc_team=BBC) A tragedy in Normandy in 1994 unfurls an unexpected scandal        ()        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0030pxt?at_mid=fVKv6oxdm6&at_campaign=The_Celebrity_Traitors_S2_E1&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m002csng&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Celebrity_Traitors_S2_E1&at_bbc_team=BBC) Get up-to-date with the first week's twists and turns        (The Celebrity Traitors S2)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct8rxr?at_mid=aE0Swl2UUa&at_campaign=Sporting_Witness_Mr_YouTube_Man&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p00j2pn5&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Sporting_Witness_Mr_YouTube_Man&at_bbc_team=BBC) Mr YouTube Man: How Julius Yego changed Kenyan athletics        (Sporting Witness: Mr YouTube Man: Julius Yego)            Most read 1 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3zxjdw5ywgpo) Asos hackers took more personal details than first revealed, BBC finds       2 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw203n6emde8o) Royal Navy sailor charged with spying for a foreign power       3 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq62j2lzlnm8o) We spent thousands on a Tui river cruise but ended up on coach trips       4 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c60rln74yzvxo) Christa Pike now walking after failed US execution, lawyer tells BBC       5 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmlyknj8wj30o) BBC to cut raft of Radio 4 programmes including You and Yours       6 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqdjvg3xww2go) 'Come all the way' back to EU, French finance minister tells UK       7 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5rmyzgdjzkwo) UK bluefin tuna comeback shows nature can recover, says WWF       8 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw33xd6vegnno) Most UK diplomats to leave East Jerusalem consulate, Israel says, as Miliband says 'vital services' to remain       9 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c6y93qq5175wo) Clubs fear political interference in Man City appeal       10 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c69wzr9qr7qro) Wonky wych elm in County Down crowned Tree of the Year               BBC News Services  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628994)    On your mobile  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/help-50068132)    On smart speakers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628323)    Get news alerts  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/20039682)    Contact BBC News     (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms) Terms of Use  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) About the BBC  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/privacy) Privacy Policy  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies) Cookies  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility) Accessibility Help  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guidance) Parental Guidance  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) Contact the BBC  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers) Careers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter) BBC emails for you  (https://www.bbc.com/advertisingcontact/) Advertise with us    Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidance/links-and-feeds) Read about our approach to external linking.         ()