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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 Sir David.
When I first spoke at this event in 2021, as a relatively new Labour Leader, I joined you to pledge my commitment to the Jewish community – at home and abroad.
Because five years ago, antisemitism had been allowed to take root and grow in our party.
Jews were made to feel unwelcome, even unsafe in the Labour Party.
We were a party that broke the trust of the Jewish community. A party that had lost its way. And three years later, I’m back here, in my first year as Labour Prime Minister, to say that I meant that promise.
This movement has returned to our history and heritage which is inseparable from the state of Israel and our Jewish family.
And I’m grateful to the LFI for its ongoing support in that mission, because I know – that work never stops. And I have to say thank you – to so many people in this room and beyond.
You fought for our values of equality, tolerance, peace, and freedom, and helped us get back on track.
Following now in the steps of the last Labour government took to support the Jewish community: funding for security at schools and synagogues. The work of the Holocaust Education Trust, where a few months ago, I announced my commitment to visit Auschwitz and £2.2 million in funding next year for HET’s Lessons from Auschwitz programme.
Alongside a promise that the Holocaust will remain on the national curriculum, come what may.
It was a Labour government that worked to strengthen the bilateral relationship with Israel. And it was a Labour government that made the decisions to proscribe Hezbollah, Hamas and the PIJ as terrorist groups. Because we understand one simple truth – 80 years after the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust, the State of Israel must always be able to provide security and safety for its people.
The events of October 7 last year were a terrible reminder. That even in the one place the world promised they would be protected, Jews are still not safe.
The worst, and most deadly day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
Innocent people targeted, taken hostage, murdered – just because they were Jewish.
Horror upon horror. Sexual violence. Torture. And for so many families – including British families – the unimaginable agony of the unknown.
What they might be suffering in captivity in Gaza and whether they will ever come home.
For me, it’s been absolutely humbling to meet many of these families on a number of occasions. Now, everyone here heard Mandy Damari’s speech just now, and everyone will have been moved by the love and pain in those words.
I want to be absolutely clear on the UN Security Council resolution – the policy of this Government towards a ceasefire has not changed.
There is no ceasefire worthy of the name, which does not, as item number one include the return of all the hostages.
That is what we are working for, day and night.
But I also want, in the spirit of that touching speech and as we did at the event marking one year since October 7th, to read the words of the Achienu prayer:
‘Have mercy on them and bring them from distress to comfort, from darkness to light, from slavery to redemption, now, swiftly, and soon’.
Because, at that event, I was so moved by the dignity of the families like Mandy, so moved by their determination – to pursue peace and justice, even amid such suffering and uncertainty.
And I pledged this government’s absolute commitment to bring the hostages home.
In every diplomatic conversation I have. I urge world leaders to do all they can for the safe, immediate, and unconditional return of the hostages.
In all my meetings with the families, I tell them that they are not alone.
We will not forget. We will not stop fighting for their return. And we stand with you.
People with loved ones in the Middle East and Jewish people in our own communities.
Because shockingly, over the past year, we have seen record levels of antisemitism here at home.
Violence, harassment and intimidation of British Jews on our streets – and online.
Let me be clear – that behaviour is not – and can never be called – pro-Palestinian.
When children are afraid to wear their school uniforms, students targeted on university campuses, shop windows smashed and defaced.
Let’s call it what it is – it is antisemitism, through and through. This government will not – and will never – tolerate it.
On Friday morning I met with the Board of Deputies, the Community Security Trust, the Union of Jewish Students and the Jewish Leadership Council – to work together to tackle antisemitism, wherever it emerges.
This Government also continues to oppose the BDS movement – a genuine threat to the two-state solution and let me set out this important principle.
Everybody should be able to access health services without any sense of fear because of their faith or heritage. And, just as I am clear Jews must be safe in the UK. Let me say again Israel has the right to defend herself in the face of aggression.
I will not turn a blind eye while Iran seeks to destabilise the Middle East.
When Iran attacked Israel with ballistic missiles in April – the Labour Party stood with Israel, as our RAF shot down Iranian drones.
When they did the same in October, our RAF stood ready to play their full part once more. And we will continue to do so.
We have imposed tough sanctions on the IRGC and we unreservedly condemn Iran’s attacks. A country which is repressing its own citizens, coordinating proxy armies and terrorist groups, intimidating the region with the veiled menace of its nuclear programme. And even seeking to incite violence and extremism here in the UK.
Make no mistake – Iran is a state sponsor of terror.
Whether that’s through their funding, training and support for Hamas – making the October 7 attack possible. Or the Houthis who have attacked Israel and caused chaos to international shipping or for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
And after a year of indiscriminate shelling in northern Israel, displacement and suffering on both sides of the border.
We welcome the ceasefire agreed in Lebanon last week.
But this must become a lasting political solution – based on security council resolution 1701.
An agreement we hope will allow people to return safely to their homes.
And communities on both sides of the border to begin the work of rebuilding their lives.
That must be our aim – to end the suffering and conflict for innocent people across the region.
Including in Gaza, where tens of thousands of people have been killed. Thousands orphaned. Thousands more displaced. Thousands sick, injured, diseased and dying.
This government continues its call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
To facilitate the unconditional release of all remaining hostages and a surge of desperately needed humanitarian aid. And to those who are determined to destroy any hope of peace,
I say: we will not let that happen.
Even in this darkest and most difficult of times. I will not lose sight of the hope that still glimmers in the distance.
And I know – after so many years of painful and complicated history, in the midst of war and grief, it seems far off. Almost impossible.
And yet – I remember once more the determination of the families that out of this great and terrible tragedy, can – and must – emerge a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
A viable Palestinian State alongside a safe and secure Israel – we have neither of those at the moment.
We need a two-state solution, expansion of the Abraham Accords and the process of normalisation to build new bridges across the region.
The only possible route that offers peace – security and stability – for all peoples.
And I stand by what I said at this lunch in 2021: this is ‘not about whether you are pro one side or another. This is about whether you are on the side of peace.
We are, and will remain, pro-Israel, pro-Palestine, and pro-peace.
Our allies will be all those – Israeli or Palestinian – who seek to further the cause of reconciliation, peace, and progress.’
So we must fight all the more strongly for a renewed political progress that recognises that there is no secure Israel without a viable Palestinian state.
And no security for Palestinians without a safe and secure Israel.
To weaken one is to weaken the other – and that endangering the peace process – whether that’s with expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and illegal outposts or settler violence – that will not help Israel’s position.
Just as antisemitic incitement in Palestinian media, violence against Jews and glorifying terrorism in schools, will only weaken Palestinian security in the long term.
And let me say – we respect the independence of the ICC. We are signatories to the Rome Statute. But I will never accept any equivalence between Israel – a democracy, and Hamas – a terrorist organisation.
So when the time comes to rebuild Palestine, international support will be absolutely critical – to make sure supplies are not diverted into terrorism. But instead, are put towards building the infrastructure of future peace – schools, hospitals, universities, places of worship, courts, homes, and with rebuilding, the strengthening of Palestinian society, loosening the grip of those who perpetrate violence and terror.
And there is no place for Hamas.
And raising the next generation of Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilders.
I met some of those young peacebuilders are in this room who are doing incredible work and continue to do so.
Labour has long supported LFI’s campaign for the establishment of an International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.
I reiterate that support today.
And the Foreign Secretary will convene an inaugural meeting in London to support civil society in the region, as part of that work to negotiate a two-state solution.
We will work for peace every step of the journey.
After October 7, we stood by Israel. Today, we still stand with Israel’s right to defend herself against aggression.
Together, we will work towards the peace of the Middle East – the freedom and security of all people.
And a better future – for the next generation.
Thank you.
