The Consulate General of Israel in the Mid-Atlantic Region announced that it will close its doors by the end of the year, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Israel to close Philadelphia consulate, representations in 4 other cities https://t.co/WwgF6Puy9E #IsraelNews pic.twitter.com/J77MIQhc7g

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) January 6, 2016

It comes as part of a cost-saving measure. Israeli's Foreign Ministry decided last year to shudder five of its 106 representations abroad, the Post reports. The ministry will try to "prevent the harming of the rights of Israelis and locals employed in the offices marked for closure."

The Israeli government had announced similar plans to terminate operations at 1880 John F. Kennedy Boulevard two years ago, but nixed them after backlash from Philadelphia's Jewish community and local politicians. Here was the rationale back in 2013, according to foreign minister Ze'ev Elkin:

While important, the Philadelphia consulate could be closed because Israel had ample representation in nearby Boston, Washington and New York, which could cover the region now under the Philadelphia consulate’s jurisdiction.

Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce was one of the groups that lobbied to keep the consulate's doors open, arguing that its closure would be a huge blow to the community as well as to Israel. But according to the Post, the cost-saving measure seems final this time around.

The consulate will close by the end of 2016.