This article was originally published in the Jewish News: http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-hilary-benn-ive-seen-two-possible-futures-for-the-israelis-and-palestinians/ Last week I visited the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel. It was my third trip to a region I first visited more than a decade ago. The aim was simply to hear, to see and to learn more from people Read more…
Rt Hon Joan Ryan MP Speech to LFI Annual Lunch 17th November 2015 Chief Rabbi, Deputy Ambassador, friends. I want to begin today by thanking you all for being here. The responsibility of supporters of Israel in the Labour Party has become even more important since we last met in Read more…
Check against delivery Annual Lunch 17th November 2015 Keynote speech by Guest of Honour Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP Shadow Foreign Secretary Sir David, Chief Rabbi, parliamentary colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. Shalom. Can I first of all apologise profusely for being late. I do hope you will understand that I Read more…
This article was originally published in the JC: http://www.thejc.com/comment-and-debate/comment/148357/boycotts-are-misguided-0 Last week, I joined over 150 British artists and authors, including JK Rowling, Tom Holland and Simon Schama, in backing a new network promoting co-existence and dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. This was about saying that rather than boycotts, it is dialogue Read more…
LFI chair Joan Ryan was in Israel this week, reaffirming Labour’s strong ties to its sister party. Meeting Labor chairman Isaac Herzog at the Knesset, she expressed her intention to bring more Labour MPs to Israel over the next year. “In my experience, it is the way to ensure MPs Read more…
Dear David, I am writing to you about the terrible violence which is currently engulfing Israel. The brutal attacks on Israeli civilians are without justification and I would ask that you convey to the Israeli government that the British people stand with the people of Israel at this most difficult Read more…
Over the coming weeks and months, I intend to begin an open and frank dialogue with Labour’s new leadership. On behalf of LFI’s supporters, I want to do three things. First, we will make clear to Jeremy Corbyn why some are deeply concerned about statements he has made regarding Israel, Read more…
This article was published by LabourList on 20 July 2015 and is available here: http://labourlist.org/2015/07/tonights-hustings-could-begin-to-rebuild-the-bridges-between-labour-and-the-jewish-community/ Tonight’s hustings could begin to rebuild the bridges between Labour and the Jewish community Among the many depressing moments on election night was the result from Hendon. Number three seat on Labour’s target list, it required Read more…
Hendon was the number three seat on Labour’s target list going into last week’s general election. But, despite needing a swing of only 0.2 per cent, Andrew Dismore, the unimpeachably pro-Israel former Labour MP who represented the seat prior to 2010, was defeated. A similar sad story was repeated elsewhere, Read more…
Published by Progress on 19 March In its early days, many people on the British left offered the young, embattled state of Israel their staunch support: Harold Wilson, Ian Mikado, Barbara Castle, Richard Crossman and Eric Heffer were all early supporters of Labour Friends of Israel. That support stemmed not Read more…
Published by the Times of Israel on 5th March — Six months ago Operation Protective Edge came to an end, bringing to a close 51 days of bloody fighting between the IDF and Hamas. In Britain, the war provoked strong reactions and it was deeply divisive. Some argued that the Read more…
Published by Progress on 27rd February 2015 — Last summer’s war in Gaza caused a great deal of division as passions ran high about both Hamas’ rocket bombardment against Israel and the nature of Israel’s response. I was pleased, therefore, to see Labour Friends of Israel this week launch a Read more…