Labour MP Emily Thornberry urges Britain to defy Israeli order to close Jerusalem consulate

Labour MP Emily Thornberry urges UK to defy Israeli order to close Jerusalem consulate Emily Thornberry, chair of parliament’s influential Foreign Affairs Committee, has called on Britain to refuse compliance with Israel’s closure of the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem. Her intervention comes amidst mounting anxiety among Palestinians that Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will submit to Israeli pressure and shut the consulate on Thursday. Middle East Eye understands that the foreign secretary’s decision is being watched closely by other consulates, including France and Spain, who fear they will be next to be forced out if the British quit.

Thornberry told MEE on Monday that the closure of the consulate was a “blatant retaliation against Britain for standing up for international law. The closure order is in itself illegal.” “I hope that Israel will not go through with the closure of a consulate which has served Britons and Palestinians since 1838. Britain should not allow Israel to do this,” she said.

Labour MP Emily Thornberry urges Britain to defy Israeli order to close Jerusalem consulate Submitted by Peter Oborne on Mon, 10/05/2026 - 12:44 The chair of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee tells MEE that Israel's closure order is ‘illegal’ Labour politician Emily Thornberry after being appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Buckingham Palace, London, 10 June 2025 (AFP) Off Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of parliament’s influential Foreign Affairs Committee, has called on Britain to refuse compliance with Israel’s closure of the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Prayers were said in the Anglican cathedral on Sunday morning that the consulate could be saved. Special mention was made of the welfare of Palestinian staff, many of whom are certain to lose their jobs if the consulate is closed Richard Sewell, Dean of St George’s College, told MEE that he was “really disturbed by the prospect of the imminent closure of the British consulate.

It is a further attack on the Palestinian community and will severely impact the UK's relationship with them.” The Dean warned that closure “will also impact UK nationals living in East Jerusalem as well as British pilgrims, and visitors to Jerusalem. It is really important that this move should be resisted.” Domino effect There is alarm that Britain will for the first time lack a diplomatic presence at the annual Remembrance Day service due to be held next month at the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery at Mount Scopus in Jerusalem. Historically, the British consul-general always officiates at the event, which i…