Latest News And Analysis
Steve McCabe MP to become chair of LFI
Steve McCabe MP is to become the new parliamentary chair of Labour Friends of Israel. Mr McCabe replaces Dame Louise Ellman who stood down as an MP at December’s general election. Mr McCabe was elected to parliament in 1997 and served as a whip under the last Labour government and as a shadow minister during[…]
Analysis: Israelis prepare for new elections – and another stalemate?
Voters in Israel go to the polls in two week’s time – for an unprecedented third time in less than one year, with many fearing that continued stalemate may even lead to further elections. The general elections held in April and September last year saw both Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz fail to[…]
Analysis: Trump plan’s threat to Arab Israelis
Among the many flaws of Donald Trump’s “deal of the century” – although one which has received little intentional attention – was its seeming proposal that thousands of Arab Israelis should be effectively stripped of their citizenship and transferred to a future Palestinian state. The US plan proposes that Israeli territorial gains in the West[…]
Analysis: Trump’s plan: Palestinians say “No” as Bibi fails to reap political windfall
The release of the US Middle East plan last week was a nakedly political event. As his impeachment trial in the US Senate continued, Donald Trump attempted to bolster his support among pro-Israel evangelical Christians at home, while throwing an electoral lifeline to Benjamin Netanyahu. Indeed, the Israeli prime minister was formally charged with multiple[…]
Analysis: Trump prepares to roll out “peace plan”
Israel’s prime minister and opposition leader met with Donald Trump today as the US administration began to roll out its controversial Middle East peace plan. Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz had separate White House meetings with the president, with the US reportedly not planning to announce full details of its plans until it has approval[…]
Analysis: Britain and Israel: the ever-strengthening relationship
The British ties with Israel are becoming wider and deeper, according to a new report from BICOM published this week. It details the burgeoning bilateral trade and economic, security and foreign policy, and cultural and scientific links between the two countries. It also notes that, while British public attitudes towards the Jewish state have remained largely[…]
Analysis: “The difference-maker in the 2020 election”? Labor and Meretz form poll pact
The Israeli Labor party and Meretz have announced a joint run in March’s general election. The deal agreed on Monday marks a landmark coming together of the Israeli left – although one driven by fear that they risked being shut out of the Knesset unless they teamed up. The move had been fiercely resisted by[…]
Analysis: Qassem Soleimani’s bloody legacy for Iran and the region
General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the United States last week, has been described as the “single most powerful operative in the Middle East today”. His two-decade leadership of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp’s Quds Force has seen the Islamic Republic’s influence and power in the region seemingly expand – but at a cost of tens[…]
Analysis: Israeli Emigration: Seeking opportunities abroad, amid a tech boom
Israel was established as a home for the Jewish people, to provide a haven for the victims of millennia of persecution and to attain the self-determination needed to rebuild their lives in security and prosperity. As the fledging state thrived, over the last 70 years, the population of Israel has skyrocketed to over 9 million,[…]
Analysis: Only 14% of Britons back BDS, says poll
Less than one in five Britons support boycotts of Israel and most view the Jewish state as the UK’s most important Middle Eastern ally in the fight against terrorism, according to polling released last week by BICOM. The annual poll also found an increase in the number of people who view Iran as a significant[…]
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Key Issues
Our weekly update looking at the Middle East peace process, regional developments, domestic Israeli and Palestinian affairs and primary issues affecting UK policy on Israel
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We work closely with Labour parliamentarians to strengthen relations between Britain and Israel and to promote a vision of coexistence founded on peace and liberal democracy
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We support constructive and informed discussion within the Labour movement; explaining the intense debate within Israel over the challenges the country faces, including constant security and existential threats.
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We run and promote campaigns to help create a lasting peace in the Middle East with Israel safe, secure and recognised within its borders; living alongside a democratic, independent Palestinian state