Ed Miliband confirms UK is considering defying Israeli order to close East Jerusalem consulate

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has confirmed the UK government is considering defying the Israeli order to close the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem, saying “we do not want this to happen”. The Israeli government ordered the closure of the consulate in retaliation for Miliband’s announcement of sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements earlier this month, giving Britain a deadline of 8 October. It has previously been assumed that Britain would comply with this Israeli order, but Middle East Eye revealed on Monday that a final decision had not yet been made.