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

Israel tried to shut down the British consulate general in Jerusalem to stop London from sanctioning settlements in occupied Palestine and to support its plan to make Jerusalem its full capital. The consulate has a special diplomatic status that dates back to before Israel was founded, reflecting an old idea of Jerusalem as a neutral area under international control. This status conflicts with Israel’s goal of annexing the city.

Consulate targeted in sanctions spat has unusual diplomatic status that clashes with Israel’s ambitions to fully annex the city Israel’s attempt to close the British consulate general in Jerusalem was primarily designed to deter London from imposing sanctions on settlements in occupied Palestine. But it also served the current government’s ambitions to fully annex Jerusalem as a national capital, diplomatic and legal experts said. The UK mission to the city has an unusual diplomatic status, which dates back to before the founding of the state of Israel, rooted in a vision of Jerusalem as a neutral enclave under international control.

Summarised by Agaah from The Guardian. Agaah aggregates 36 sources and removes duplicate coverage — all news, one place.