UK Withdraws Several Diplomats and Their Families, Renames Consulate General in Occupied Jerusalem

London, Oct 8 (KUNA) -- Britain announced on Thursday the temporary withdrawal of some of its diplomats and their families from its consulate general in occupied Jerusalem due to a lack of security guarantees from the Israeli occupation authorities. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband confirmed in a press statement that the British consulate in Jerusalem would not close and would be renamed as of Thursday to the “British Mission in Jerusalem.” He stressed that the United Kingdom had been clear from the outset that it does not accept that the Israeli occupation authorities have the legal right to close the British consulate general in Jerusalem, which has been open for nearly two centuries. Miliband explained that the “British Mission in Jerusalem” is independent and “operational” and will continue to provide essential services and work with the Palestinian people, adding that maintaining the mission with a minimum number of staff would ensure the preservation of the UK’s entrenched presence and its role in supporting a two-state solution. He noted that his ministry would work over the coming months to rebuild the British presence and would not take retaliatory measures against the Israeli occupation if ongoing discussions with it continued in good faith. Miliband reiterated his country’s commitment to the decisions and measures taken on September 8 last year in coordination with the international community to support a two-state solution and achieve peace, adding that the UK remains steadfast in its principled position that East Jerusalem is occupied territory. It is recalled that the Israeli occupation threatened to close the British consulate in Jerusalem and expel its diplomats in response to London’s decision to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and ban trade with them. (End) M.R.N. / T.A.B.