UK and allies could impose further sanctions if Israel presses ahead with shutting British consulate in Jerusalem

From the Newshound archive · first published 28 September 2026 · last updated 29 September 2026.

Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve has advised the Foreign Office that Israel lacks the legal standing to close the British consulate general in East Jerusalem, urging the government to challenge the planned October 8 closure in court. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband warned the move is "completely wrong" and said Britain is "looking at all our options", including the possibility of coordinated allied sanctions. The consulate has operated continuously since 1838 and functions separately from the UK embassy in Tel Aviv.

Israel has announced it will close the consulate on October 8, in retaliation for Britain's broad prohibition on imports from illegal Israeli settlements.

Grieve contends that Israel cannot assert sovereign control over East Jerusalem, a territory the UN and most countries — the UK among them — regard as occupied by Israel rather than subject to its sovereignty.

Foreign Office minister Lord Wood acknowledged Grieve's legal argument may be valid but warned Israel could render the consulate 'de facto' inoperable even short of a formal closure.