Former UK attorney general denies Israel's right to close consulate — Anadolu Agency

Former UK Attorney General Dominic Grieve said that Israel has no legal right to close the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, which, he said, the UN, most of its member states and the United Kingdom recognize as occupied Palestinian territory. This was reported by Anadolu Agency, citing The Guardian.

Grieve's legal position

Grieve, who served as attorney general from 2010 to 2014, sent an advisory document to the British government. He urged it to challenge the possible closure of the consulate in court because, in his view, Israel claims sovereign control over East Jerusalem that it does not possess as an occupying power.

According to the former attorney general, retaining the Consulate General in East Jerusalem after recognizing the State of Palestine supports London's position that Jerusalem's final status has yet to be determined and does not amount to recognizing Israeli sovereignty.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Plans to close the mission

Israel said it intends to close the consulate on October 8 in response to the United Kingdom's broad ban on trade in goods from Israeli settlements. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced the introduction of this ban this month.

British Foreign Office minister Lord Wood acknowledged in the House of Lords that Grieve's arguments may be valid, but cautioned that Israel could effectively make the consulate's work impossible. Grieve also noted that closing the mission could hinder the provision of aid to Palestinians, monitoring of the situation, and the preparation of reports from the West Bank and Gaza. The British mission in Jerusalem has operated since 1838 and is separate from the UK embassy in Tel Aviv.