Israel says UK consulate in East Jerusalem will close Thursday

Israel’s planned closure of Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem remained unresolved Monday after UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell held talks with Israeli officials, while an Israeli spokesperson said the mission would close on Thursday as scheduled. The reports did not establish whether a last-minute agreement would avert the closure or whether it would proceed. Three anonymous sources said Powell visited Israel last week and did not secure an agreement to keep the consulate open. Two of those sources said discussions were continuing and a deal was possible, though unlikely by Thursday’s deadline. A spokesperson for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the consulate would close on Thursday, as announced. The UK government had no immediate comment on Powell’s visit, according to the report. Israel ordered Britain on September 8 to close the consulate within 30 days and remove its diplomats from the city. The order followed Britain’s announcement of sanctions on Israeli settlements, including a planned ban on goods made in settlements in the occupied West Bank.