Has Israel shut the UK consulate in East Jerusalem – or downgraded it?
British Foreign Secretary Miliband has said the consulate building in Jerusalem will remain, but the office will now be called "UK Mission, Jerusalem". That raises the question of whether the consulate has been closed or merely downgraded.
British Foreign Secretary Miliband has said the UK consulate building in East Jerusalem will not be removed. He added, however, that the office will be renamed and will be known as "UK Mission, Jerusalem".
That wording leaves the situation open to interpretation. The question is whether Israel has shut the consulate, or whether its status has been downgraded while the building and a British diplomatic presence remain, under a different name and possibly with different functions.
The source material contains only the minister's statement. It gives no details on why the change was made, what powers the office will have going forward, or whether its staff or responsibilities will change. Those points are not confirmed at this stage.
