Things are looking up for Israel among U.K. politicians. First, the new leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, suspended, and then expelled, from the Labour Party, the determinedly anti-Israel Jeremy Corbyn, who had led the party for five years, during which he tolerated, and even encouraged, antisemitism in the ranks. Corbyn is now well and truly out, a spent political force.
The Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been stoutly pro-Israel. And now that Johnson heads a caretaker government, the two leading candidates to replace him, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, have both made clear their staunch support for Israel.
In particular, Liz Truss, currently the Foreign Secretary , has now pledged that if elected, she will consider moving the British Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Were that to take place, it would likely lead another eight to ten countries, including Australia, Canada, Greece, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and Paraguay, to follow suit. A report on her promise is here: “UK prime minister candidate to review moving embassy to Jerusalem, if elected,” Israel Hayom, August 12, 2022:
British Foreign Secretary of State and Parliament member Liz Truss promised to consider moving the British embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem if she is elected Tory leader and becomes prime minister in September.
The Conservative Party leadership candidate — one of two; she is vying against fellow Parliament member Rishi Sunak — made the promise in a letter written to members of Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI). She also participated in a CFI event on Monday night in which she addressed voters and answered questions about Israel-UK relations.
I understand the importance and sensitivity of the location of the British Embassy in Israel,” Truss wrote in her letter, adding that she has had “many conversations with my good friend,” Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, on the topic. She then vowed to “review a move to ensure we are operating on the strongest footing with Israel.”…
Truss said she “remain[s] committed to standing up to Iranian hostility and the country’s pursuit of nuclear weapons” and that “the safety and security of Israel is of the utmost importance.”
“She additionally voiced support for Lapid’s recent criticism of the United Nations regarding its Special Committee to Investigate Israel Practices. She called it “institutionally biased and a waste of money,” saying “UN representatives with a history of anti-Semitic remarks should have no role in reviewing the activities of Israel.”
“Support for Israel and the need to combat antisemitism were also stressed by Truss’s opponent in his own letter to Conservative Friends of Israel members.
“Sunak wrote, “I am proud to be a friend of Israel and … to have served in a government that has elevated the UK-Israel relationship to its strongest position in my lifetime.”
“He continued, “I know there is so much more that we can achieve together.”
“Like his challenger, Sunak addressed the need to combat antisemitism and the BDS movement in the United Kingdom. As he wrote in his letter: “The divisive tactics of a small clique of left-wing activists do not represent wider society … .”
“He also proposed making the National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre free for visitors, and wants to introduce legislation to make sure the Holocaust educational facility is built “as soon as possible.”
“Sunak, who is expected to meet with CFI members on Aug. 15, also said he is “deeply” concerned by Iran’s threat to Israel. “We cannot allow Iran to possess a nuclear weapon, and the UK and Israel must enhance our diplomatic, defense and intelligence cooperation to prevent this from happening.”
“As he told CFI members in his letter, “I will always defend Israel’s right to defend itself, and I pledge the UK’s unwavering support for Israel’s security.”
Both Truss and Sunak have pledged to combat the BDS movement and antisemitism. Both have expressed alarm about Iran’s pell-mell rush to manufacture a nuclear weapon and pledged to prevent it. But only Truss has denounced the UN’s grotesque antisemitism, and in particular, the open-ended Special Committee to Investigate Israel Practices. She called it “institutionally biased and a waste of money,” saying “UN representatives with a history of anti-Semitic remarks should have no role in reviewing the activities of Israel.” Sunak has yet to express any criticism of the UN’s grotesque mistreatment of Israel. Nor has he said anything about possibly moving the British Embassy in Israel to its capital, Jerusalem.
For now, in a field of three pro-Israel candidates for Prime Minister – Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak, and Liz Truss – though they are so close in their support for the Jewish state, I’d put my thumb on the scale for the intrepid Ms. Truss, the only candidate who’s vowed to consider that all-important embassy move.
mortimer says
The Red-Green Axis of Evil never sleeps. They are always devising new ways to undermine Western civilization and replace it with BRUTAL-ITARIAN neo-Marxism in which everyone will be equally cowed into submission to the Big State and to Big Brother.
Britain, which approved and began the project of creating a Jewish homeland in the League of Nations, has now official representatives who are trying to DISMANTLE ISRAEL.
It is an error in thought to assume that a TWO-STATE SOLUTION will please all Arabs. No, many Arabs want a ONE-STATE SOLUTION involving all of Israel being subsumed into Jordan. That is the actual hidden agenda of Hamas and the Pally Authority, but they will not say so openly.
Winston Churchill as Colonial Secretary, guided the Cairo Conference of 1921 to adopt a number of measures for the Middle East, chief of which creating new states.
The conference’s most significant outcome was the decision to implement the Sharifian Solution: Abdullah bin Hussein was to administer the territory east of the Jordan River, Transjordan, and his brother Faisal was to become king of a newly created Kingdom of Iraq; both were to continue to receive direction and financial support from Great Britain. It was also agreed that Lebanon and Syria should remain under French control, Britain should maintain the mandate over Palestine and continue to support the establishment of a Jewish Homeland there. Churchill expressed himself to be devoted to the realization of a Jewish national home which he considered good for the world and for UK and its empire.
Since there is already a two-state solution in place, why not just continue the project. Arab rights are respected in Israel as much as those of other law-abiding citizens. Arab is also an official language of Israel.
Roland says
Let’s hope that Britain continues on the path to more positive relationship with Israel. Unfortunately, there is still a looney Left ensconced in the media (thinking of the Guardian, the Independent, and the BBC) and the universities and an anti-Israel mandarinate in the Foreign Office.
john smith says
I was having a job making my mind up between the two of them, as both had policies that I like and I dislike. This has done it for me though, especially with her stance against the UN and moving the embassy to Jerusalem. I’m behind Liz Truss from now on.
Infidel says
Yeah, and also Sunak is a WEF favorite, as well as Beijing’s preferred candidate. So I too would pick Truss over him
Btw, when do the Tories vote to pick one of them? And why couldn’t all the candidates be thrown open to the Tory rank & file nationwide?
Keith O says
Truss’s statement sounds good, however, I noticed one word that is of concern.
She said she would “consider” moving the embassy to Jerusalem.
We all know that what a politician promises and what they do are two entirely different things.
Infidel says
Yeah, I don’t expect that embassy to move unless hell froze over, and Anne Marie-Waters became the PM of Britain
gravenimage says
In the UK, Liz Truss Considers a Possible Embassy Move to Jerusalem
………………………………..
Good to hear!
VICTORMc. says
The very cleverest thing that Tony Blair did when he became PM in Britain was not political it was to appoint Lord Levy as his number one collector of funds for the Labour Party. As a huge generality Jewish people tend towards the Labour Party and it kept ‘Labour’ in power for 10 years. The half-wit anti-semite Corbyn couldn’t grasp this concept thus he went the way of all mindless idiots I am delighted to say.
Gregory D. says
I am dumbfounded by this trepidation over the transference of embassies to Jerusalem. Whose feelings do we fear hurting here? That of MUSLIMS, who burn down churches and synagogues worldwide, and put in their place their houses of Satan? Muslims, who have murdered and displaced millions, and who still practice apartheid in every single one of their failed states? I urge governments worldwide to do what they want to do, and never worry about the sensitivities of Muslims. They have never shown anyone outside of their ruthless supremacist cult similar consideration.
JimJFox says
Very well said. Iran will of course be foremost in objecting, via Hamas & the “Palestinians” and foremost also on every civilised society’s hit list. Before it gets nukes.
Walter Sieruk says
As this article reads “Liz Truss, currently the Foreign Secretary , has now pledged that if elected, she will consider moving the British Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.”
If she does that would be a very appropriate move. For the City of Jerusalem. was the Capital of the Jewish kingdom of Israel in ancient times. Therefore it’s very fitting that Jerusalem.be the Capital city of the Jewish State of Israel in modern times.