Gideon Sa'ar

Rule Changes

Ordered UK consulate closed; said 20 diplomats would leave

Britain announced on September 8 that it would ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and build a sanctions regime against settlement activity over six to nine months. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Parliament that settler groups were carrying out ethnic cleansing of Palestinians with Israel's government turning a blind eye. Israel ordered the British consulate in East Jerusalem closed and banned 11 UK MPs.

Updated Yesterday

Rule Changes

In office since under two years before the ceremony

Colombia opened its embassy in Jerusalem on October 14. It is the tenth mission in the city and the largest from Latin America. The move came a day after Colombia and Israel restored their free trade agreement.

Updated Oct 27

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Leading Israel's counter-escalation against Spain and other critics

Spain has maintained an ambassador in Israel for over four decades. On March 11, 2026, it formally downgraded the Tel Aviv embassy to a chargé d'affaires—a lower-ranking diplomat signaling deep structural disagreement. The decree, signed by King Felipe VI and Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, made Spain the first major EU member to permanently withdraw its ambassador.

Updated May 30

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Announced reciprocal expulsion alongside Netanyahu

South Africa and Israel have expelled each other's top diplomats, leaving neither country with a senior representative in the other. On January 30, 2026, South Africa declared Israeli chargé d'affaires Ariel Seidman persona non grata for using embassy social media to insult President Cyril Ramaphosa. Hours later, Israel reciprocated by expelling South Africa's chargé d'affaires Shaun Byneveldt. Both were ordered to leave within 72 hours.

Updated May 26

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Attended Pax Silica signing ceremony

For the first time since COCOM dissolved in 1994, the United States is assembling a formal technology bloc. Taiwan—the world's dominant chip manufacturer—signed the Pax Silica Declaration on January 27, 2026, joining Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, UK, Australia, Qatar, and the UAE.

Updated May 22