Emily Thornberry, the chair of the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, has formally urged the British government to refuse an order from Israel to shut down the British consulate located in East Jerusalem. Thornberry has characterized the Israeli demand as 'illegal,' arguing that the UK should maintain its diplomatic presence despite the pressure to close the facility.

This intervention follows growing concern among Palestinian groups and political observers that the UK Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, might yield to Israeli demands. While the consulate’s status remains a point of significant diplomatic tension, the potential closure is reportedly being weighed against broader UK-Israel relations. The situation has created a divide between those advocating for the preservation of the consulate as a symbol of diplomatic autonomy and those concerned with the potential fallout of defying the Israeli government's directive. As of now, the Foreign Office has not confirmed whether it intends to comply with the closure order, though reports suggest a decision could be imminent.