Sir Keir Starmer has defended welcoming the Israeli president to Downing Road as MPs raised considerations about permitting him into the UK.
Sir Keir and Isaac Herzog met in Quantity 10 on Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier, at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), Sir Keir advised the Home of Commons that “however difficult, the UK must not walk away from a diplomatic solution” to the conflict in Gaza.
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“We will negotiate and we will strain every sinew, because that is the only way to get the hostages out, to get aid in and to stop the killing,” he advised MPs.
The PM stated it was intention to make “absolutely clear” to Mr Herzog that Britain condemned Israel’s bombing of Hamas leaders in Qatar 24 hours earlier.
Shrugging off criticism, the PM added it might be the “politics of students” to not meet Mr Herzog after the SNP’s Westminster chief Stephen Flynn gave an impassioned speech in opposition to the Israeli president’s go to.
Mr Flynn stated: “Would he invite Vladimir Putin into No 10? Would he invite Benjamin Netanyahu into No 10?
“What does it say of this prime minister that he will harbour this man whilst children starve?”
Picture:Isaac Herzog is within the UK. File pic
He stated he “made clear” the UK’s intention to recognise a Palestinian state would “in no way help bring the hostages home, help the Palestinians, or help bring an end to the conflict” – however would as a substitute “embolden extremists”.
The president additionally advised Sir Keir it was “dangerous” to “echo Hamas’s propaganda campaign of starvation in Gaza”.
MPs query Herzog go to
Dozens of MPs from all events, together with Labour, questioned the authorized standing of Sir Keir welcoming Mr Herzog.
The Israeli president has beforehand stated there are “no innocent civilians in Gaza” and “it is an entire nation that is responsible”.
He was additionally pictured signing an artillery shell earlier than it was fired in direction of Gaza in December.
The prime minister’s spokesman stated the assault in Qatar is a “clearly unacceptable act” and stated it “of course” can be one of many topics raised with Mr Herzog.
He added Sir Keir will probably be “clear” with Mr Herzog concerning the danger of Israel escalating its actions.
Handcuffs not handshakes
New Inexperienced Social gathering chief Zack Polanski referred to as for “handcuffs not handshakes” as he stated Scotland Yard’s conflict crimes unit must be ready inside Quantity 10 to handcuff Mr Herzog “and take him away for questioning”.
Mr Polanski, who received the Greens management election final week and is Jewish, accused Mr Herzog of being “complicit while the Israeli government has engaged in committing genocide in Gaza”.
Picture:Zack Polanski. Pic: PA
Israel has frequently denied it’s finishing up a genocide in Gaza, however final week, the world’s main affiliation of genocide students declared it’s. Earlier this week, the UK authorities concluded Israel shouldn’t be committing genocide in Gaza.
Herzog is a conduit
The Liberal Democrats tabled an pressing query following PMQs, calling on the international secretary to make an announcement on the implications of Israel’s strike in Qatar.
Overseas Workplace minister Hamish Falconer took to the despatch field to defend Mr Herzog’s go to, saying: “President Herzog is on a personal go to to the UK.
“He is not a functional part of the government; he is an important conduit to raise these concerns.”
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33:43In full: Wednesday’s PMQs
Mr Falconer stated the UK is supporting a movement for an emergency assembly of the UN Safety Council on Wednesday night and revealed Overseas Secretary Yvette Cooper is chatting with the E3 (UK, France and Germany) and G7 allies, together with the US about Israel’s assault on Qatar.
He added that Ms Cooper met Mr Herzog within the morning and “amongst other things” requested him to make sure higher help from the Israeli authorities to get kids with accidents and college students out of Gaza.
As PMQs was happening, union members on the Trades Union Congress (TUC) convention unanimously handed a movement to oppose Mr Herzog’s go to.
On Tuesday night, 60 cross-party MPs and Lords gathered outdoors parliament to sentence Mr Herzog’s go to after they despatched a letter to Sir Keir asking what authorized recommendation the federal government has acquired about Mr Herzog’s go to and whether or not his entry to the UK “is compatible with our obligations under the Genocide Convention”.
