LFI today publishes After the War: Marginalising the Enemies of Peace, a policy paper on what needs to be done after the Gaza war to marginalise the enemies of peace. For Britain, Europe and pragmatic Arab states, the foundational principle – that a negotiated two-state solution offers the only long-term Read more…
Following developments in Syria over the weekend, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and former LFI vice-chair Pat McFadden MP has reiterated that the government “will always support Israel’s right to defend itself and make itself secure”. Speaking on Sky News, he continued that the overthrow of Assad “had partly Read more…
***CHECKED AGAINST DELIVERY*** Chief Rabbi, Honoured Guests… It’s a privilege to be invited to speak to you today. And I’d like to begin by thanking our lunch co-sponsors – Sir David Garrard and Stuart Roden. And I know everyone here will join me in sending our very best wishes to Read more…
Keir Starmer yesterday addressed LFI’s Annual Lunch – its biggest in 15 years – and underlined his support for Israel and a two-state solution. The prime minister also had strong words for Iran, restated the government’s opposition to BDS, and made a major announcement on Britain’s work to help establish Read more…
At today’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Questions session, Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer and International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds respectively reiterated the government’s positions on the need to free the 101 Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza and the need to tackle the threats posed by the Iranian regime. Read more…
At this afternoon’s urgent question on the Middle East, Labour MP Peter Prinsley asked the Middle East Minister about efforts to free 28-year-old Emily Damari, a British-Israeli dual national who has been held hostage in Gaza since 7 October last year. He asked: “Emily is a British citizen who, as Read more…
LFI statement on northern Gaza Hamas’ murderous assault on southern Israel on 7 October triggered tragic conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, and huge suffering for innocent people throughout the region. LFI continues to support a ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and Read more…
Former LFI chair Dame Louise Ellman has written the below article for the Jewish Chronicle. Click here to read the original. I was an MP for over two decades so am rarely surprised by the amount of time parliament spends focused on Israel. Even I, however, was taken aback by the degree to which Read more…
Today, Labour Friends of Israel publishes UK-Israel Aerial Defence Collaboration: Towards a British Iron Shield, a policy briefing on the lessons Britain can learn from Israel on aerial defence to protect civilians and infrastructure against missile attacks. Since its creation in 1948, Israel has lived under the constant threat of Read more…
At today’s statement from the Foreign Secretary on the situation in the Middle East, Labour MPs urged tougher action against the Iranian regime from the government. Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie asked: “A year ago, despite the undoubted challenges, there were early signs of improved relations between Israel, the Read more…
Introducing new sanctions against the Iranian regime in the House of Commons today, Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty MP has confirmed that snapback sanctions “remain an option” for the government should Iran continue to flout the JCPOA nuclear deal. Later, he said: “Let me be clear: Iran’s actions in relation Read more…
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting Iranian military figures and organisations for their continued role in destabilising political relations across the Middle East. In response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1, the government said it was taking action against senior figures in Read more…