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Labour shadow Middle East minister writes to FCDO on coexistence support

Labour's shadow Middle East Minister Bambos Charalambous MP has today written to Minister of State for Asia and the Middle East Amanda Milling calling on the government to provide "meaningful support to peacebuilding projects that can bring together Israelis and Palestinians". The letter specifically calls on the UK to use the forthcoming G7 summit in Munich…

Labour parliamentarians sign cross-party letter calling for coexistence funding

Seven Labour parliamentarians have today signed a cross-party letter to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss urging the UK government to give “urgent, meaningful support to peacebuilding projects that can bring together Israelis and Palestinians, most especially the youngest citizens.” The letter continues: “There has been a failure by the international community to properly invest in long-term, stable…

In Brief: Landmark deal will see Israel supply EU with gas via Egypt

Noa natural gas field > Uri Kfir, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Israel, Egypt and the European Union signed a memorandum of understanding last week in Cairo that will see the Jewish state export its natural gas to the EU for the first time. The landmark agreement will increase the sale of liquified natural gas to…

In Brief: Former minister predicts Saudis will recognise Israel in coming months

Crown prince Mohamad bin Salman > US State Department, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Israel’s former minister for regional cooperation has suggested that Saudi Arabia will normalise diplomatic ties with Israel “in the next few months”. Speaking in London, Ofir Akunis reportedly said that the world should also expect other countries in addition to the Saudis…

In Brief: Israel to offer work visas to persecuted LGBT Palestinians

Hilton Beach at Tel Aviv Pride, Tel Aviv Israel 1640001 > Ted Eytan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons The Knesset committee for foreign workers, headed by Labor MK Ibtisam Mara’ana, has this week considered the need for work visas for LGBT Palestinians facing persecution in the West Bank and Gaza. The hearing took place after…

Analysis: The law that broke the coalition’s back

Israel's coalition government > Avi Ohayon / Government Press Office (Israel), CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons After weeks of speculation, Israel’s unwieldy coalition government bowed to political pressure yesterday, announcing that it would dissolve itself and call Israel’s fifth election in less than four years. What happened At a press conference on Monday evening, prime…

Steps to a two state solution: Support the reunification of the West Bank and Gaza under PA authority

Steps to a two state solution: For Israel, for Palestine, for peace Step Twenty Four: Support the reunification of the West Bank and Gaza under PA authority The reunification of the West Bank and Gaza is a crucial step in the establishment of a viable Palestinian state. It is also a key demand of the Palestinian people…

In Brief: Biden administration leads criticism of unbalanced UN report

White House, public domain via Wikimedia Commons The Biden administration has joined 20 other countries in issuing a harsh rebuke on Monday to the UN Human Rights Council after a Commission of Inquiry formed to probe Israel released a report last week condemning the Jewish state. The report blamed Israel’s “persistent discrimination against Palestinians” for the 11-day…

In Brief: Fatah: Hamas trying to take control of the West Bank

Hamas insignia in Ramallah (Hoheit, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons). Members of the Hamas terror group planned to seize control of a Palestinian security installation near Ramallah, Palestinian sources claimed this week. The allegation coincides with the fifteenth anniversary of Hamas’s violent takeover of the Gaza Strip, which saw the Palestinian Territories split between Islamist…

Analysis: Tel Aviv Pride marks its twenty third birthday

Hilton Beach at Tel Aviv Pride, Tel Aviv Israel 1640001 > Ted Eytan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Tel Aviv Pride celebrated its 23rd birthday on Saturday as 170,000 Israelis took to the streets of the city in a joyous celebration which saw the number of participants close to pre-pandemic levels. The parade took place amid several…