Israel closes UK consulate in Jerusalem over settlement sanctions

On September 8, 2026, Israel announced the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem in response to new UK sanctions on West Bank settlements. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said the move was a reaction to what he called 'outrageous' sanctions. The consulate, located in East Jerusalem, has served as the UK's diplomatic mission to the Palestinian territories. The UK sanctions were imposed over Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank.