Israel Bans 12 UK Officials in Escalation of Diplomatic Row With Britain

These measures follow an agreement to rename the British consulate in East Jerusalem as the 'UK Mission, Jerusalem' to avoid a total shutdown. The 200 year old presence now operates with a reduced task force of 7 staff who will not conduct consular work, while the consul general and 20 diplomats have left the country. The downgrade prevents the reciprocal expulsion of as many as 27 Israeli diplomats from the UK, though Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband maintains that Israel has no legal right to close the facility in occupied territory.