Fears raise over Israel possibly closing its Phila. consulate

Will Israel close its consulate in Philadelphia?

That suggestion was reportedly made last month by an Israeli deputy foreign minister, and the news has local politicians and Jewish leaders around Philadelphia worried.

Mayor Nutter, who is in Israel on a trade mission, will make the case that it is in Israel's economic interest to keep the consulate open, his spokesman Mark McDonald said Thursday.

The Jerusalem Post reported last month that Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Ze'ev Elkin said the Philadelphia region could be served from New York and Washington.

Israel reportedly wants to open a diplomatic mission in Chengdu, a city of 14 million in China. Closing an existing consulate or embassy would free funds for the China mission.

A spokesman for the Philadelphia consulate said Thursday that no decision had been made. The consulate, in Center City, serves Pennsylvania, South Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.

In an open letter, the Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce called on supporters of Israel to petition the foreign ministry to keep the consulate open.

Richard A. Bendit, president of the chamber, wrote that the Philadelphia region has the second-largest Jewish population on the East Coast and the fifth largest in the nation.

The Philadelphia region "plays a key role in accelerating U.S.-Israeli business development, advocating pro-Israeli causes, and strengthening cultural, political, and philanthropic ties between our countries," Bendit wrote.

Rep. Patrick Meehan (R., Pa.) on Wednesday made public a letter he sent to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging his support for keeping the consulate open.

A petition on Change.org also directed at Netanyahu has garnered nearly 900 signatures in support of the consulate.

"Closing the Israeli Consulate in Philadelphia would, without a doubt, be a blow to our region and an even greater loss to Israel, its citizens, institutions and businesses," the petition states.

On Facebook, the "Save the Israeli Consulate in Philadelphia" page had more than 600 likes Thursday evening.