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…
Published by LeftFootForward on 23 February 2015 — It is time for Britain to make a pro-active contribution to halt Hamas’ vicious cycle of violence and secure peace for Palestinians and Israelis On 1 December 2014 my colleague Grahame Morris led a Westminster Hall debate on ending the conflict in Read more…
Published by the Jewish News on 19 February 2015 — Next Wednesday, Michael McCann and other colleagues in Labour Friends of Israel will lead a Westminster Hall debate on the contribution the UK can make to preventing further conflict in Gaza. Through our ‘Stop the war’ campaign, we are determined Read more…
February marked the six-month anniversary of the ceasefire which brought last summer’s war in Gaza to a close. It was a conflict which brought a huge amount of suffering to the peoples of Israel and Gaza. But, just as it has done on three occasions over the past six years, Read more…
Labour Friends of Israel have just returned from a very successful four day-long visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories with four Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidates and two Labour Members of Parliament. Dame Tessa Jowell MP, who held several senior ministerial positions under PM Tony Blair and PM Gordon Brown, Read more…
Published by LabourList on 10 October 2014 I am a strong supporter of Palestinian statehood. However complex the issues involved, it is a simple matter of justice that the Palestinian people should have their own homeland, one that lives in peace and security with its neighbour, Israel. I can Read more…
Published by LabourList on 25 July 2014 — We have all been shocked to see the surge in violence between Israel and Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. This conflict is causing enormous hardship on both sides. Particularly distressing is the sight of civilian casualties. The scale of Read more…
Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Labour Party, in a speech to Labour Friends of Israel, said: Friends, it is once again a privileged to have the opportunity to address the annual LFI lunch. I would like to thank everyone from LFI for organising today’s lunch, and I am sure Read more…
Ed Miliband showed strong solidarity with Israel and highlighted his personal connection to the country on his first visit as Leader of the Labour Party. The Labour Leader was joined by his wife Justine, Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander, political advisors and LFI director Jennifer Gerber. Ed Miliband met with Read more…
In response to Peter Hain MP’s comments supporting a one-state solution, LFI Chair Anne McGuire MP has issued the following statement: “As Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander has said, the Labour Party has a very clear position in support of a negotiated two state solution. The party supports, as does Read more…