Signage at UK consulate in East Jerusalem removed as Israel’s deadline over

Workers at the UK consulate in East Jerusalem have removed its signage as the Israeli shutdown deadline arrives, further damaging strained ties between allies.

Journalists from the Reuters news agency saw ‌workers remove a plaque reading “British Consulate General” from the building on Thursday, as well as another sign for its consular section. The UK flag was still flying over the building.

Israel ​last month ordered Britain to close the consulate within 30 days and remove its diplomats from ​the city, after Britain announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West ⁠Bank, including a trade ban on goods made there.
The United Nations and most countries consider the ​settlements to be illegal under international law. Israel disputes this.
Israel has been adamant the consulate will close even ​as Britain sought to keep it open, including sending the country's top national security adviser to Israel last week for talks.
Britain's presence in the city dates back almost 200 years, long before the State of Israel was established in 1948. ​The closure order does not affect Britain's embassy in Tel Aviv, which handles diplomatic relations with ​Israel's government.