Latest News And Analysis
Analysis: Biden offers olive branch as Iran curtails inspections
In a carefully choreographed series of steps, the Biden administration has edged towards re-engaging with Iran – nearly three years after Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 accord which is designed to limit the Islamic republic’s nuclear ambitions. The moves came as Iran partially pulled back from a threat to this week halt international inspectors’[…]
In Brief: Israel starts jabs for East Jerusalem Palestinians as Gaza drive begins
Israeli Magen David Adom paramedics today began vaccinating Palestinians in East Jerusalem. Those targetted for the covid jabs – which are being carried out at the Qalandiya crossing – are residents of Israel but live beyond the security barrier which cuts through the eastern half of the city. Israel also agreed with the Palestinian Authority on Friday[…]
In brief: Pull out of race or you’ll help Bibi, ex-army commanders urge Gantz
A group of 130 former army commanders and senior officials in the secret services and intelligence community publicly called for Benny Gantz to pull out of next month’s general election – or risk helping Benjamin Netanyahu remain in power. Gantz, a former IDF commander, currently serves as defence minister in a unity government formed with[…]
In Brief: Fatah dissidents set to break away and run against Abbas in PA vote
Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party looks set to split into two – or possibly three – rival slates in this summer’s planned parliamentary elections, the Haaretz newspaper reported this week. Nasser al-Kidwa, the nephew of Yasser Arafat and a former PLO ambassador to the United Nations, confirmed publicly that plans are afoot for the Palestinian president’s[…]
Analysis: Labour vows to challenge government on PA curriculum
The Labour frontbench is to press the government on Britain’s funding of the Palestinian Authority’s school curriculum – a curriculum which glorifies terrorists, incites violence and is riddled with antisemitic and anti-Israeli content. The announcement by shadow Middle East minister Wayne David (pictured) is a major step forward in LFI’s long-running campaign on the issue.[…]
In Brief: Public approval of covid response rises but anti-Bibi bloc ekes out majority
A left-right coalition of parties opposed to Benjamin Netanyahu remaining as prime minister has eked out a narrow one-seat majority in the latest Channel 12 poll. The survey also showed voter approval of the government’s handling of the covid pandemic rising as over four million Israelis received at least one shot of the vaccine. The poll indicated that Netanyahu’s Likud party will take first[…]
In Brief: Israeli natural gas plan offers chance to alleviate Gaza humanitarian crisis
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis could be eased by the announcement last weekend of a major deal between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli energy company Delek to supply natural gas to the coastal enclave’s sole power plant. The agreement was announced by Qatar’s envoy to Gaza – a key intermediary between the PA and Israel –[…]
In Brief: Hamas restocks arsenal to 2014 levels and further restricts women’s rights
Hamas has restocked its deadly arsenal since the 2014 Gaza war, a senior Israeli military commander said last week. The news came as an Islamic court in the coastal enclave further tightened restrictions on women, saying they needed the permission of a male guardian to travel. The Gaza-based terror group now has a stockpile of[…]
LFI host Parliamentary briefing on Israel’s vaccine roll-out
Labour Friends of Israel were delighted to host a parliamentary briefing on Israel’s vaccine roll-out and what lessons the UK can learn from it. The speakers at the event were Dr Asher Shalmon, Director of the International Relations Division in Israel’s Ministry of Health, senior member of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Team and Dr Adam Cutler, Deputy Head of the Division of International Relations[…]
LFI Chair: We must suspend aid that finances hate-filled curriculum
Labour Friends of Israel Chair Steve McCabe MP has written for Jewish News. Click here to read the original. Britain is a long-standing advocate of a two-state solution, but its funding for these lessons in hate undermines this. We should support efforts to bring about peace, reconciliation and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. Instead, UK[…]
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