During my visit to Israel this week, I made clear that the UK views the relationship between our two countries as vital to our shared interests, prosperity, and national security.
Naturally, there will always be some disagreements between friends. Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) opposed the restrictions on some arms sales to Israel imposed last September.
We believe the International Criminal Court’s case against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant is morally suspect, legally dubious, and we wouldn’t have dropped Britain’s objection to it.
And we have argued that any UK funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency needs to be tied to reforms that go far further than those the agency has so far adopted; the shocking revelation that Emily Damari was held in a UNRWA facility illustrates just how necessary this is.
But it is also important that we recognize that these disagreements between London and Jerusalem are just part of a wider, more positive picture of the Labour government’s approach to the Jewish state and the regional dangers it faces.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech, following his first cabinet meeting as Prime Minister, in London, Britain, July 6, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/CLAUDIA GRECO)
Our prime minister, Keir Starmer, stood staunchly by Israel’s side after the October 7 atrocities. He continues to do so – insisting on Israel’s right to self-defense, calling for the release of all the hostages, and demanding that Hamas play no further role in the governance of Gaza.
This week, when the UN’s Human Rights Council holds its annual debate on “the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories,” Britain will refuse to participate in the vote – recognizing that “Agenda item 7” egregiously singles out Israel for opprobrium.
This reflects the Labour government’s determination to play a mature, balanced, and constructive role in the tragic conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
While remaining committed to a two-state solution, in opposition, Labour dropped its Corbyn-era support for immediate unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. In government, it hasn’t followed other European states – most recently, Spain, Norway, and Ireland – in pursuing a step that would do little to advance the kind of direct negotiation and mutual compromises that a long-lasting settlement will require.
Instead, the foreign secretary has rightly recognized that the path to a Palestinian state is linked to a wider framework involving normalized relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
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The prime minister is clear-sighted about the other crucial element in the regional equation: the threat posed by the Iranian regime. That threat isn’t just to Israel and our other allies in the region but to Britain and Europe, too.
Starmer's pledge to the Middle East
Starmer declared at last year’s LFI annual lunch that Iran is a “state sponsor of terror,” and pledged, “I will not turn a blind eye while Iran seeks to destabilize the Middle East.”
Last October, the government responded to Tehran’s direct attack on Israel by announcing new sanctions against senior Iranian military figures and the Iranian Space Agency, following earlier measures to disrupt Iran’s UAV and missile industries and its access to items critical for military development.
Earlier this month, the government announced a review of the UK’s counter-terrorism legislation to ensure it can counter “modern-day state threats, such as those from Iran.” Crucially, this review will examine how to fulfill Labour’s pledge to proscribe Tehran’s terror army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The announcement was coupled with the news that the entire Iranian state – including the IRGC and the Ministry of Intelligence – will be placed on the top tier of the government’s new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, designed to expose those working for Iran’s ayatollahs on British soil.
The government has also been vocal in its condemnation of the “Moscow-Tehran” alliance, which has brought death and destruction to Europe with Russia’s indiscriminate bombardment of Ukrainian civilians with the aid of Iranian-supplied suicide drones and missiles.
The UK’s recognition of the multi-headed nature of the Iranian threat – domestically, to Europe, and Israel and the Middle East – is furthered by its tough stance on the Iranian nuclear threat. The Labour government has reiterated its predecessor’s commitment that Iran must never be allowed to develop or acquire a nuclear weapon.
There has also been close cooperation on what continues to be our first priority – the return of the hostages, despicably held for over 500 days in the most unthinkable of conditions.
Our Ministry of Defence conducts surveillance flights to locate the hostages. In Parliament, the very first event LFI held following the election was with the hostage families to hear their stories and stand with them in demanding Hamas immediately release their loved ones.
There is much scope for even closer ties between Britain and Israel – not just in terms of security but on trade, tech, and culture. I’m pleased the government has reiterated its desire to prioritize a Free Trade Agreement with Israel.
I flew straight from Israel to the UAE, something that no British parliamentarian would have been able to do just five short years ago. I discussed how the UK can do more to support widening and deepening the process of regional peace.
As a first step, LFI has called for our government to establish a special envoy for the Abraham Accords, with the status of an ambassador, tasked with encouraging additional countries to normalize relations with Israel.
The UK government is also taking action to protect and support the British Jewish community. Since the 7 October attacks, antisemitic incidents have alarmingly reached historic highs and anti-Israel demonstrations – representing a small but vocal minority – have caused deep concern for British Jews.
This week, the government announced new powers for police to stop protests from demonstrating outside places of worship, including synagogues, highlighting a clear response that our government has zero-tolerance for anti-Israel intimidation.
From the dark years of the Corbyn era, the prime minister has transformed the Labour Party to a place where Jews are welcome again in their historic political home. He is taking the same uncompromising approach to stamping out the rise of antisemitism in Britain.
It’s inevitable that our governments won’t always see eye to eye.
But the relationship between Britain and Israel is much deeper than the political complexion of the government in London or Jerusalem at any given time.
While historically complex, it is built on the foundations of our shared liberal democratic values, which we must always protect and cherish.
The writer is a British MP and chair of Labour Friends of Israel.
Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia of the "Ana Chuchulashvili" the thief The worst hotel in the world, it's dangerous, don't go near it! This is not a hotel! It's an old, dirty house, there are cockroaches and insects in the room, Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The manager of the place is a fraud and a former drug addict named "Ana Chuchulashvili"
Please urgently remove this fake hotel from your website. It is a scam and it is deceiving many customers. It is advertised on all social networks as a scam! very important – report on fraud house and scam that in your website and cheat people and customers! – Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia
Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia of the "Ana Chuchulashvili" the thief
The worst hotel in the world, it's dangerous, don't go near it! This is not a hotel! It's an old, dirty house, there are cockroaches and insects in the room, Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The manager of the place is a fraud and a former drug addict named "Ana Chuchulashvili" the name of here company is : Ltd Alpaka
405375419
Located at: Nucubidze St N57, Tbilisi, Georgia/Nucubidze Street 57, 0177 it smells terrible, The walls in the room are peeling, I took pictures, there is mold and dampness throughout the room the beds are really uncomfortable, like in a pre-trial detention center, your whole back hurts when you sleep on them and they almost break because they are so thin! the WI FI doesn't work at all, The room was very dirty and filthy, and when you ask her to move you to a room she says everything is taken, even though all the rooms are empty and open! I arrived at this horrible place, this horrible house, at 1:00 AM, after two hours of sleeplessness, I asked for my money back, a blonde girl of about 50 years old named “Anna” told me that she wanted the money in cash right away, otherwise she would not let me out of the hotel, she told me that I would not be able to sleep in their bed, at 3 AM I went to look for an ATM to withdraw money, because I could not find one, after searching for a whole hour, in the Tbilisi cold, I returned to her at midnight to look for an ATM, but she did not give me my suitcase and passport, so I came back the next day and gave me the money in cash, she did not give me an invoice either, do not come near! They are deceiving the public, booking and all hotel websites! This is not a hotel, it is a very dirty, old house and it smells very bad. Search on youtube "never go there – Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City Georgia of Ana Chuchulashvili the house hotel from hell" , don't go " to “Hotel Delisi” on YouTube or "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia " or"HOTEL DELISI (Tiflis, Gürcistan) – Otel Yorumları ve Fiyat" He was caught on tape speaking badly and illegally taking a passport and suitcase.
That she took the suitcase by force, she also stole 3 expensive shirts from me for a total of 250 GEL, I demand compensation of 128 GEL for the two hours of hell I suffered there + 250 GEL for the shirts she stole from me
I have videos where she only wants money in cash so she doesn't pay taxes and doesn't agree that I pay her with a credit card, and she also doesn't want to give me my suitcase and passport.
1. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia
2. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Address
3. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Rooms
4. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Amenities
5. Hotel Delisi – Tbilisi City – Georgia Offers and Deals
სასტუმრო დელისი, ქალაქი თბილისი, საქართველო, ქურდის „ანა ჭუჭულაშვილის“
მსოფლიოში ყველაზე ცუდი სასტუმრო, საშიშია, ახლოს არ მიხვიდეთ! ეს სასტუმრო არ არის! ეს ძველი, ჭუჭყიანი სახლია, ოთახში ტარაკნები და მწერებია, სასტუმრო დელისი, ქალაქი თბილისი, საქართველო – ადგილის მენეჯერი თაღლითი და ყოფილი ნარკომანია, სახელად „ანა ჭუჭულაშვილი“, კომპანიის სახელია: შპს ალპაკა
405375419
მდებარეობს: ნუცუბიძის ქ. N57, თბილისი, საქართველო/ნუცუბიძის ქუჩა 57, 0177, საშინელი სუნი აქვს, ოთახში კედლები აქერცლილია, სურათები გადავიღე, ოთახში ობი და ნესტია, საწოლები ნამდვილად არაკომფორტულია, როგორც წინასწარი დაკავების იზოლატორში, მთელი ზურგი გტკივა, როცა მათზე იძინებ და კინაღამ იმსხვრევა, რადგან ძალიან თხელია! Wi-Fi საერთოდ არ მუშაობს, ოთახი ძალიან ჭუჭყიანი და უწმაწურია და როცა ოთახში გადაყვანას სთხოვ, მიპასუხებს, რომ ყველაფერი დაკავებულია, მიუხედავად იმისა, რომ ყველა ოთახი ცარიელი და ღიაა! ამ საშინელ ადგილას, ამ საშინელ სახლში, ღამის 1:00 საათზე მივედი, ორსაათიანი უძილობის შემდეგ, ფულის დაბრუნება ვთხოვე, დაახლოებით 50 წლის ქერა გოგონამ, სახელად „ანამ“, მითხრა, რომ ფული ნაღდი ფულით უნდოდა, თორემ სასტუმროდან არ გამიშვებდა, მითხრა, რომ მათ საწოლში ვერ დავიძინებდი, დილის 3 საათზე ბანკომატის მოსაძებნად წავედი ფულის გასატანად, რადგან ვერ ვიპოვე, მთელი საათის ძებნის შემდეგ, თბილისურ სიცივეში, შუაღამისას დავბრუნდი მასთან ბანკომატის მოსაძებნად, მაგრამ ჩემოდანი და პასპორტი არ მომცა, ამიტომ მეორე დღეს დავბრუნდი და ფული ნაღდი ფულით მომცა, ინვოისიც არ მომცა, ახლოს არ მოხვიდეთ! ისინი ატყუებენ საზოგადოებას, დაჯავშნის და ყველა სასტუმროს ვებსაიტს! ეს სასტუმრო არ არის, ეს ძალიან ჭუჭყიანი, ძველი სახლია და ძალიან ცუდი სუნი ასდის. YouTube-ზე მოძებნეთ "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia – The worse hotel in the world" , არ წახვიდეთ "Hotel Delisi"-ში YouTube-ზე ან "Hotel Delisi, Tbilisi City, Georgia" ან "HOTEL DELISI (Tiflis, Gürcistan) – Otel Yorumları ve Fiyat". ის ვიდეოჩანაწერში მოხვდა, სადაც ცუდად საუბრობდა და უკანონოდ იღებდა პასპორტს და ჩემოდანს.
მან ჩემოდანი ძალით წამართვა, ასევე მომპარა 3 ძვირადღირებული პერანგი სულ 250 ლარად, მე ვითხოვ 128 ლარის კომპენსაციას იმ ორსაათიანი ჯოჯოხეთისთვის, რომელიც იქ ვიტანჯე + 250 ლარი იმ პერანგებისთვის, რომლებიც მომპარა.
მე მაქვს ვიდეოები, სადაც ის მხოლოდ ნაღდი ფულით ითხოვს ფულს, ამიტომ არ იხდის გადასახადებს და არ ეთანხმება, რომ საკრედიტო ბარათით გადავუხადო, ასევე არ სურს ჩემოდნის და პასპორტის მოცემა.
"ב-7.10 נחטפה כל המשפחה שלי, אני, בעלי דוד, ושתי בנותינו אמה ויולי, אז בנות 3 בלבד", פתחה את נאומה שרון, אשתו של דוד קוניו החטוף בעזה. "דוד בעלי, אהבת חיי, והאבא של הבנות שלי, עדיין שם. התאומות ואני חזרנו ביום החמישים ושתיים. אמה ויולי שלנו חגגו חמש, בלי אבא שלהן. בשבוע הבא הן ילכו לגן חובה, והן יודעות שאבא לא יהיה איתן ביום הזה. הן יודעות שאבא שלהן שם. לפני כמה ימים, כשהשכבתי אותן לישון הן שאלו אותי 'אמא, את בטוחה שאבא יחזור?'".
"יש הצעה לעיסקה על השולחן, שחמאס כבר אמר לה כן", המשיכה. "האמריקנים רוצים שהחטופים יחזרו. הרמטכ"ל אומר שחייבים ללכת עכשיו לעיסקה. העם, אתם, כל אחד מכם, כאן בככר, במהלך היום בצמתים, בכל מקום, במספרים אדירים, כולם צועקים איתנו, כולם רוצים את החטופים בבית. אז למה אני לא יכולה להגיד לבנות שלי שאני בטוחה שאבא שלהן יחזור?"
