Labour MPs make Israel visit amid strain on UK relations

Six Labour parliamentarians met Israeli political leaders, including President Isaac Herzog, on a visit to Israel and the West Bank last week.

The Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) delegation included five MPs elected at last year’s general election: LFI chair Jon Pearce; Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket MP Peter Prinsley – who is Jewish – Leeds South West and Morley’s Mark Sewards, Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles, Sittingbourne and Sheppey’s Kevin McKenna and Baroness Berger.

Their visit, timed to arrive at the 600-day milestone of the Gaza war, saw the parliamentarians meet Israel’s President Herzog, Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel and opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Yair Golan.

LFI's delegation meeting with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid[Missing Credit]

They also met hostage families and attended a protest to mark the 600 days of wharf and press for a hostage deal; as well as attending Kibbutz Kfar Aza and the Nova festival site which were attacked on October 7, 2023.

LFI delegation at Hostage Square[Missing Credit]

As well as meeting Israeli figures, the delegation also visited the West Bank and met Palestinian Authority (PA) representatives, including Ambassador Adel Atieh, Palestinian Head of Mission for European Affairs.

LFI Delegation meeting with Palestinian Authority figures[Missing Credit]

The visit comes at a time of growing disagreement between the Labour government and Jerusalem.

Last week, Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer condemned Israel’s decision to approve 22 new settlements in the West Bank.

Hamish Falconer, the Middle East minister, yesterday called the move “a deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood”.

Also last month, David Lammy, the foreign secretary, announced sanctions against three individuals and four firms linked to West Bank settlements as well as freezing talks for a free trade agreement in protest against Israel’s actions in both Gaza and the West Bank.

LFI chair Jon Pearce MP told the JC: “At a difficult and distressing time for the Middle East region, it’s more important than ever for British Members of Parliament to visit Israel and Palestine to show solidarity and hear directly from people on the ground.

“This delegation has been focused on identifying constructive ways the UK can work to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal to end the terrible conflict in Gaza, and to lay the foundations for a more peaceful future for the region via a two-state solution.

He added: “We left the region more convinced than ever of the need to secure the release the remaining 58 hostages, massively increase humanitarian aid into Gaza, and see Hamas relinquish control of Gaza.

“Similarly clear is the positive role the UK can play in supporting the Arab plan for Gaza’s reconstruction, reform of the Palestinian Authority, regional normalisation between Israel and the Arab world, and people-to-people peacebuilding via an International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.”