David Lammy visits Israel, during three day Middle East ‘fact-finding’ trip
Labour's shadow foreign secretary visited Israel, Jordan and the West Bank during unpublicised visit last week
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Labour shadow foreign secretary David Lammy has made a three day visit to the Middle East, including talks in Israel with Merav Michaeli, the leader of Israel’s Labor Party.
Lammy flew to the region last week, and also visited Jordan, and East Jerusalem and the West Bank during the low-profile visit.
While in Israel, Lammy visited Vad Vashem in Jerusalem to pay respects to the victims of the Holocaust.
The Israeli side of the visit was organised by Labour Friends of Israel.
Lammy also held talks with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh in Ramallah.
Diane Corner, the UK’s Consul-General in East Jerusalem, was involved in arranging the meeting with Shtayyeh, and other other Palestinian civil society organisations in both Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Talks with Michaeli included thoughts on continuing to strengthen the relationship between the UK and Israeli political parties.
The Tottenham MP also dining at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, that same day.
Lammy said on Friday:“It was great to have the chance to visit Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories after visiting Jordan last week.
“Labour is committed to rebuilding relations with our sister parties in Israel. In government we would seek a positive and constructive relationship, rooted in our commitment to supporting the goal of a negotiated, diplomatic settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on two states: a safe and secure Israel, alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.”
Michael Rubin, Director of Labour Friends of Israel said:“David Lammy’s first visit to Israel as Shadow Foreign Secretary is an important moment in the restoration of Labour’s deep and historic ties of friendship with the Jewish state.
“David participated in a moving memorial service at Yad Vashem, including laying a wreath in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. During the visit we also met with Merav Michaeli, leader of the Israeli Labor party, to reaffirm the crucial sister party relationship, as well as receiving a briefing on the wider regional security situation, and giving our support to those campaigning for peace and a two-state solution.”
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