A new Israeli government was sworn in on Sunday after three general elections and 18 months of political deadlock. The Knesset approved the government – the fifth to be headed by Benjamin Netanyahu – by a vote of 73 to 46. For the first time, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz Read more…
Lebanon is facing an unprecedented economic crisis, spurring protests and a threat to the country’s stability unlike any seen since the end of the country’s bloody civil war three decades ago. The crisis – which was ignited last October by planned tax rises and grew into a wider movement against Read more…
The painstaking process of assembling a new Israeli government is due to culminate in its swearing-in tomorrow. Israel has had a caretaker government since late 2018 when the first of three closely fought, inconclusive elections was triggered. The third of those elections in early March eventually led to a “unity Read more…
LFI chair Steve McCabe has written for Progress on the future of Labour’s foreign policy under Keir Starmer. You can read the original here. Keir Starmer’s election as Labour leader has already signalled progress in tackling the scourge of antisemitism and rebuilding our relationship with the Jewish community. The roots Read more…
Speaking in Foreign Office questions, LFI chair Steve McCabe welcomed Israeli-Palestinian cooperation to tackle COVID-19. “I thank the Minister for his comments. Will he join me in welcoming the news that Israel has approved a $230 million advance payment to the Palestinian Authority, alongside coronavirus test kits, intensive care beds, Read more…
Nearly two months after it commenced a stringent lockdown, Israel appears to be turning a corner in the fight against the coronavirus. The number of new cases over 24-hour periods has consistently been below 200 since the start of last week. On Sunday night, Israel registered only 29 new cases Read more…
The release of Donald Trump’s much-delayed Middle East peace plan in January was a nakedly political bid to boost Benjamin Netanyahu’s chances of re-election. After the conclusion of a “unity government” agreement last week, Netanyahu is guaranteed at least another 18 months as Israel’s prime minister. In that period, he appears determined Read more…
Israel’s year-long political stalemate has come to an end with the signing this week of a coalition deal between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz. The agreement will see the formation of a “unity government” in which the two men will rotate the premiership. Netanyahu is due to serve as prime Read more…
LFI chair Steve McCabe has written to foreign secretary Dominic Raab urging the government to condemn the detention of the 7 Gazan peace activists arrested by Hamas for taking part in a Zoom with Israeli peace activists and call for their immediate release. You can read Steve’s letter here.
The roller-coaster path to the formation of a new Israeli government took new twists and turns over the last week, with Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz today locked in last-ditch negotiations ahead of a midnight deadline. Gantz’s 28-day mandate to form a government – issued to him by President Reuven Read more…
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be tweeting recommendations of some brilliant Israeli books, tv shows and films to keep you entertained whilst we #StayHomeSaveLives. Follow the recommendations as they’re released on our twitter account. Recommendations so far: Our first recommendation is Tom Segev’s masterful biography of Israel’s founding Read more…
Sir Keir Starmer has underlined his determination to begin the process of ridding the Labour party of antisemitism with a series of moves in his first days as leader. Sir Keir’s actions were welcomed by the new chair of Labour Friends of Israel, Steve McCabe. In an opinion piece for Read more…