Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s foreign minister, announced that the British consulate in Jerusalem has ended its activities and its sign has been removed. Sa’ar added that the consul general and 19 other British diplomats have also completed their mission and will leave Israel.

The Israeli foreign minister said that after negotiations with the British government, it was agreed that only seven British diplomats would operate in the former consulate building in Jerusalem, with very limited powers.

Sa’ar said Israel has carried out four retaliatory measures against Britain. These measures include expelling British representatives from the International Aid to Gaza center, stopping the training of Palestinian Authority forces by Britain, barring entry for 12 British citizens, and closing the consulate in Jerusalem.

The Israeli foreign minister said that the country has recently provided Britain with important information regarding a security threat case against the RAF Fairford airbase. Emphasizing the importance of security and intelligence cooperation between the two countries, he said that Israel wants good relations with Britain.