UK security adviser’s Israel talks do not prevent Jerusalem consulate closure

Jonathan Powell, the United Kingdom’s national security adviser, travelled to Israel in a low‑key effort to stop the closure of Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem after London announced sanctions on settlement‑produced goods. Israel had demanded the consulate be shut within 30 days and its diplomats withdrawn, and Powell’s discussions with officials including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar did not produce a deal before the Thursday deadline.

The British consulate, located in Sheikh Jarrah, handles relations with Palestinians and provides consular services. Emily Thornberry, chair of parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the UK government to resist Israel’s order to close the consulate, citing the historic role of the mission and the impact on Palestinian staff and UK citizens. The dispute has raised concerns among other European missions and legal experts about the legality of the closure.