India, Oct. 8 -- Amid a row over UK's opposition to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the British government renamed its East Jerusalem consulate as a mission to defy closure order.
On September 8, Israel had ordered the closure of the consulate after the UK imposed sanctions on products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are regarded as illegal. Israel announced that the consulate must close within 30 days and that diplomats assigned there will lose their accreditation after the deadline expires.
On Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced that 20 diplomats and the consul general would leave the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem, while a task force of seven could remain in the building "with a...