UK withdraws staff and families from Jerusalem consulate

The retaliation comes after the UK accused the Israeli government of turning a blind eye to the ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Palestinians (PA) - (PA Archive)

The UK has withdrawn staff and their families from its consulate in East Jerusalem after Israel said it would be closed in retaliation for the Government’s trade ban with illegal West Bank settlements.

However, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the building itself would not be shuttered and would instead be known as the UK Mission.