The UK will “continue to have a close working relationship” with the new Netanyahu-led coalition government in Israel, a British foreign office minister has said during questions in the House of Commons this week.
The minister was asked in the parliament on Tuesday by Labour’s Andy Slaughter, who is known for his pro-Palestinian stance, whether the UK government “will be meeting representatives of those far-right parties?”
Slaughter asked: “What have you made of the role of the far-right in Israel’s new government?”
Rutley stressed Israel was one of the UK’s “closest partners” adding “you will find we will continue to have a close working relationship with the new government.”
He then added: “But it would be inappropriate to comment further as ministerial positions were still being finalised.”
We can assure readers that Israel’s newly forming government is not near as extreme as people like Andrew Slaughter are trying to make out. And it’s a bit rich for Andrew Slaughter who has a long history of anti-Israel activism and has not only shared the stage with extremists but even went to Gaza, along with Jeremy Corbyn, and met with members of the Hamas terrorist organisation.
Earlier in parliament, Conservative MP Bob Blackman said he wished to “congratulate” Netanyahu on his return as prime minister saying he wished he would form “a broad-based coalition” to ensure a “key ally” had a “stable” government.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also released a statement on Twitter congratulating Benjamin Netanyahu on his election victory earlier in the week.
On behalf of the UK, I would like to congratulate @netanyahu on his victory in the Israeli elections.
Across areas like trade, security and technology there is a huge amount our countries do together and I look forward to working with the returning Prime Minister.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) November 7, 2022
The UK leader said, “On behalf of the UK, I would like to congratulate Netanyahu on his victory in the Israeli elections.”
“Across areas like trade, security and technology there is a huge amount our countries do together and I look forward to working with the returning Prime Minister,” added Sunak.
We call upon the UK Government to officially recognise Jerusalem is Israel's capital and move its embassy to Jerusalem.
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