British consulate in East Jerusalem will stay open as UK mission, says Ed Miliband

UK and Israel back away from full diplomatic confrontation, though British presence in Palestine will be much reduced UK politics live – latest updates Israel and the UK have backed away from a full-scale diplomatic confrontation, with Britain announcing it is rebranding its consulate general ⁠building in ⁠East Jerusalem ​as a UK mission, a move that will result in UK diplomats leaving Israel, with only seven to remain in the building.

Among those leaving is the consul general, Helen Winterton.

The change was forced on the UK by the Israeli government as punishment for the decision by the foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, last month to ban trade with illegal settlements and introduce a tougher sanctions regime against those who aided the building of settlements.

The UK is seeking to protect the two-state solution as the best means of ending the Israel-Palestine conflict.

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