Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy has said that Labour will “always believe that Israel has the right to defend itself” against attacks. Speaking at an event in Manchester, Nandy also voiced her opposition to a complete ban on weapons sales from the UK to Israel. She said both herself and Read more…
The highest-level meeting between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in over a decade took place last week, and was followed by the announcement of a series of confidence-building measures. What happened Israel’s defence minister, Benny Gantz, met the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, in Ramallah last Sunday. “I came to the meeting Read more…
Join us for a discussion event on the Middle East’s changing political landscape, organised in collaboration with Chatham House. You can sign up for this fascinating discussion here ahead of the event itself on Tuesday 14th September at 2pm. Over the last decade, Middle Eastern countries have experienced significant changes in Read more…
Israel’s neglect of public advocacy and diplomacy in recent years led to a rise in antisemitism and support for Palestinian terrorist organisations, Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid said on Sunday, in a strong rebuke of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “They are doing this because no one explains to them Read more…
The new Israeli coalition government, led by prime minister Naftali Bennett, voted against a bill which would have annexed the West Bank in the Ministerial Committee on Legislation on Monday. Likud MK Miki Zohar dared Bennett’s right-wing Yamina party and their New Hope coalition partners, to support the legislation, despite Read more…
LFI last week launched a major new publication examining the changing shape of the Middle East. From the growing threat posed by Iranian expansionism to diplomatic shifting sands and demographic changes, The New Middle East: A Progressive Approach is an important contribution to Labour’s foreign policy development. Launch event The pamphlet was Read more…
Isaac Herzog was sworn in as Israel’s eleventh president on Wednesday, with a promise to “lower the flames, to calm things down”. Herzog, a former leader of Israel’s Labor party and former chairman of the Jewish Agency, told members of the Knesset that he took his vow to act as a Read more…
LFI this week launches a major new publication on the changing shape of the Middle East. From demographic changes to diplomatic revolutions, and the growing threat posed by an expansionist Iran, The New Middle East: A Progressive Approach is designed to contribute to the evolution of Labour’s foreign policy development. What’s in it The Read more…
Israel’s health ministry recorded 501 new coronavirus cases on Monday, representing a 50 percent increase from the previous day. The figure is the highest since 30 March, when 571 tested positive for the virus. Out of the new infections, 42 percent had been vaccinated. This comes amid concern over the Read more…
Israel will send South Korea some 700,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine that are due to expire shortly in a deal signed between the two nations on Tuesday. The deal was announced by Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, who called the deal a “win-win” situation for both countries. The deal Read more…
Join us for the launch of LFI’s new publication The New Middle East: A Progressive Approach a selection of essays discussing the changing political landscape in the region. This new essay collection seeks to challenge assumptions about the Middle East and broaden the debate on the left, which is too often disproportionately focussed on Israel. From demographic changes to diplomatic revolutions, Read more…
The Palestinian Authority announced its intention to cancel a coronavirus vaccine exchange deal with Israel on Friday, just days after an agreement was reached. It is thought that the PA cancelled the deal in part to counter the increasing popularity of the hardline Hamas terrorist group. The announcement focused on the Read more…