The British consul-general to Palestine is expected to leave Jerusalem in compliance with Israel’s order to close the British consulate before Thursday's deadline, Middle East Eye has learnt.
Once British diplomats have left occupied Palestine, they will not be able to re-enter without Israeli permission. The closure of the nearly 200-year-old consulate in East Jerusalem will likely be permanent, absent a change of government in Israel.
British Consul-General Helen Winterton is expected to work with her team from Oman in the hope of returning to Jerusalem when possible, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the order to close the British consulate last month in retaliation against the UK’s move to ban trade with Israeli settlements. Winterton is set to leave by Thursday, which Saar set as the deadline for the consulate's closure.
MEE visited the consulate on Wednesday afternoon and asked a security supervisor if the consul-general has left.
The supervisor replied: "I am sorry, but I cannot give you any information."