Jeremy Hunt has been appointed Foreign Secretary following the resignation of Boris Johnson. 

Hunt, who served as health minister for more than 5-1/2 years, the longest term of any in the history of the state-funded National Health Service, replaces Johnson amid turbulent week for Theresa May.

As UK-Israel relations and the Middle East conflict will be a vital part of his remit as Foreign Secretary, where does Jeremy Hunt stand in relation to Israel?

BDS

Hunt has previously said that he strongly opposes the boycott movement against Israel. A statement on his websites reads,

“I am clear that the UK government is deeply committed to promoting our trade and business ties with Israel and accordingly is strongly opposed to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement.”

“I do not believe that imposing sanctions on Israel would be a constructive step.”

Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

Unfortunately Hunt expressed his disappointment in President Donald Trump’s decision to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Mr Hunt wrote: “The UK position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and long-standing: it should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states.”

Hezbollah

Hunt has called for monitoring the Lebanese group Hezbollah with a view to a possible ban on the group in the UK.

“Hezbollah’s beliefs are outrageous, disgusting, and should be condemned at every opportunity. I deplore the group in its entirety,” he said in a statement this year.

Eyes will be on Hunt as to which direction UK Foreign Policy is expected to take. Issues before him include the Iran nuclear deal currently under negotiation. Also Hunt’s appointment comes following last month’s warning from Boris Johnson to the UNHRC amid further bias against Israel.

Mark Regev, Israel’s ambassador to Britain, tweeted: “Mazal tov to Jeremy Hunt on his appointment as Foreign Secretary. Looking forward to further strengthening the Israel-UK partnership.”