The bland statements issued from Jerusalem, Ramallah and Washington last week gave no hint to the success of otherwise of the US’ latest attempt to push a peace initiative in the Middle East. Following talks last week in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Israel and Palestine by the Read more…
The full extent of a massive humanitarian effort by Israel to assist thousands of Syrians on its northern border has been revealed. Over the past six years, Israel has studiously avoided being dragged into the brutal civil war, while keeping a watchful eye on Iranian expansionism into the conflict-ravaged country Read more…
This article was originally posted on the Jewish Chronicle. Click here to read the original. A government minister has cast doubt on the likelihood of a ban being imposed on Hezbollah’s terrorist wing in Britain. Nick Hurd, the Police Minister, told a Labour MP who raised concerns about the Al Read more…
The green and yellow flags, adorned with an upturned machine gun, which were on display on the streets of central London last weekend were those of the anti-Semitic terror group, Hezbollah. The flags have become a regular feature of the annual Al Quds Day parade through the city, but, given the Read more…
LFI vice-chair Louise Ellman is pressing for answers on how Hezbollah flags came to be flying in the centre of London last weekend and taking action to help ensure it never happens again. She has written to the home secretary, Amber Rudd, asking her to use powers under the Terrorism Act Read more…
Donald Trump’s quixotic attempt to broker what he once he termed the “ultimate deal” – a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians – bore its first tentative signs of success this week when President Mahmoud Abbas indicated he was prepared to begin talks with Benjamin Netanyahu. The Palestinian president’s announcement came Read more…
ISIS fired a rocket into southern Israel from northern Sinai this week, striking a greenhouse but causing no major injuries. The terrorist group, which controls a small region of the peninsula near the Gaza strip, immediately claimed responsibility for the low-grade attack. Under the title Wilayet Sinai, ISIS in Egypt Read more…
Israel struck a number of targets in Syria last week, in what was the country’s strongest intervention into the Syrian civil war yet. Whilst previous attacks have mostly been concentrated in southern Lebanon and Damascus, this series of raids also included a hit on a military base near Palmyra. In Read more…
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Whatever its merits, the nuclear deal concluded two years ago this summer has done nothing to satisfy Iran’s appetite to establish regional hegemony in the Middle East. This is unsurprising: one of the great flaws of European and US efforts was a willingness to overlook Iran’s Read more…
Six Labour MPs visited Jerusalem, Ramallah and Tel Aviv on an LFI delegation last week. Pat McFadden, Ian Lucas, Lillian Greenwood, Chris Leslie, Mike Gapes and Ian Austin took part in the five-day trip. The visit included meetings with Israeli lawmakers, a Palestinian minister, NGOs, coexistence projects, security officials and Read more…
Ambassador Mark Regev Speech to LFI Annual Lunch 2016 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Chief Rabbi, Deputy Leader Tom Watson, Lords and Ladies, Members of Parliament, Distinguished Guests, Friends of Israel, It is a pleasure being here this afternoon. I wish to start by thanking your Parliamentary Chair Joan Ryan MP, your Read more…
Tom Watson MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party’s speech to the LFI Annual Lunch 2016. CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Friends, you honour me with the invitation to address you today. I want to join with Joan in thanking Sir David Garrard and Isaac Kaye for making this wonderful gathering possible. Read more…