Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has today announced that the government will embark on new trade talks with Israel. Israel ranks among other key markets including the Gulf Cooperation Council, India, South Korea, Switzerland and Turkey with which the government will negotiate free trade agreements. The trade talks are Read more…
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has today pledged to maintain the historic friendship between Israel and the United Kingdom at a meeting with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog in Paris. The meeting, at the sidelines of the Olympics in Paris, saw the Prime Minister reiterate his call for “immediate steps” towards an Read more…
The Netanyahu government has been a disaster for Israel and its security. However, the ICC chief prosecutor’s case is morally suspect and legally dubious. It undermines international law both when the chief prosecutor draws an equivalence between the actions of terrorists and those of democratically elected leaders, and when – Read more…
At today’s House of Lords debate on foreign affairs and defence in the King’s Speech, LFI chair in the House of Lords Baroness Ramsay used her contribution to support the government’s commitment to a two-state solution and to call for tougher action against the Iranian regime. She said: “My Lords, Read more…
This afternoon, LFI hosted an event for a delegation of Israeli hostage family members in Parliament. More than 30 new MPs elected at the general election attended, where they heard harrowing stories of their relatives’ kidnap and captivity. The event, chaired by LFI vice-chair Sharon Hodgson MP, was also addressed Read more…
At today’s statement on recent NATO and European Political Community meetings, the Prime Minister set out the government’s support for a “safe and secure Israel”, a two-state solution, and the immediate release of the Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza. He also raised the “malign influence of Iran”, including Read more…
At today’s statement on the situation in the Middle East, Foreign Secretary David Lammy set out the government’s support for Israel’s current position, as well as making a clear distinction between Israel and Hamas in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He said: “There are those in this House who, like Read more…
At today’s statement from the Foreign Secretary on the situation in the Middle East, a number of Labour MPs asked questions of the government on issues including the Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, the UK’s influence in the Arab world, and a two-state solution. LFI vice-chair Sharon Hodgson, MP Read more…
Foreign Secretary David Lammy today confirmed that the government would restore funding to the UN Refugee and Works Agency, which operates extensively in Gaza and the West Bank, after the UK joined a number of countries in suspending contributions in January in response to allegations that UNRWA employees had taken Read more…
Foreign secretary David Lammy has this week made his first visit to Israel and the West Bank following his appointment on 5 July. During the trip, the Foreign Secretary reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, including the release of the remaining Israeli hostages Read more…
Newly-elected Labour prime minister Keir Starmer has today spoken with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas. In his call with Netanyahu, the Prime Minister “said he looked forward to further deepening the close relationship between the two countries”. They went on to discuss the Read more…
Israeli politicians from across the political spectrum have sent their congratulations to Keir Starmer upon his election as prime minister following yesterday’s general election. Israeli president Isaac Herzog, a former leader of Labour’s Israeli sister party, was among the first world leaders to tweet his congratulations, saying “I look forward Read more…