Embassy of Israel in London

The Israeli Embassy to the United Kingdom is situated at 2 Palace Green (consular entrance at 15a Old Court Place), in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is the only diplomatic building of Israel in the United Kingdom. The building hosts the embassy and consular departments, as well as the defence attachè, and cultural departments.

Like all Israeli Embassies around the world, security around the London Embassy is extremely tight, with concrete blocks around the perimeter, and a full time armed police presence. Cars are not permitted to drive past the embassy. Although pedestrians can walk past the embassy on the other side of the road, it is forbidden to photograph outside the perimeter. The street the embassy is on faces Kensington Palace, and is blocked off by barriers and police patrols, making it one of the most secure streets in London.

The embassy has been a target of both terrorists, and anti-Israeli protests. The building was bombed on July 26, 1994, by Palestinian terrorists.

Terrorist attacks

Israeli diplomats and diplomatic posts have been a constant target for Palestinian and Arab terrorists, as well as their sympathisers. The UK embassy building and its staff have been attacked on numerous occasions.

On September 19, 1972, a letter bomb delivered to the embassy exploded, killing an Israeli diplomat. Seven other bombs were either not delivered, or detected. Terrorist group Black September were thought to be responsible.

The Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Shlomo Argov was shot and seriously injured on June 3, 1982 by two Jordanian terrorists. The incident led to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

On July 26, 1994, a car bomb exploded outside the embassy, partially destroying the front of the building and injuring 20 people. The blast also damaged shops on nearby Kensington High Street, and blew out windows in Kensington Palace where Princess Margaret and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were in residence.

Following the attacks, concrete blocks were installed on the street in front of the embassy, and cars were blocked from entering the bottom half of Court Place.

External links

* [http://london.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/missionhome.asp?MissionID=34& Official website]
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=49873#s21 Earlier history of the house] , from the "Survey of London"