By Andrew MacAskill and William James
LONDON (Reuters) -Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived for talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Wednesday in what is likely to be a tense meeting, with both leaders planning to criticise each other country’s recent behaviour.
The meeting comes a day after Israel expanded its attacks on Hamas by launching an airstrike aimed at killing the Islamist group’s political leaders in Qatar, a British ally in the Middle East, which Starmer condemned.
Starmer plans to raise with Herzog the Israeli airstrike on Qatar as well as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, his spokesperson said.
The two men briefly shook hands without smiling on the steps of Downing Street before they entered the building.
The Gaza war has strained Israel’s relations with Britain and other European countries. The Israeli government has been angered by Britain’s plan – along with several other Western countries including France and Canada – to recognise a Palestinian state and to block Israeli officials from attending its biggest defence trade show, which is taking place this week.
Starmer is under pressure from politicians in his own party to take a tougher approach to Israel, but he told parliament on Wednesday that diplomacy was needed to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and to get the Israeli hostages released by Hamas.
Herzog’s role as Israel’s president is mainly ceremonial but he caused anger when he said all residents of Gaza were responsible for the Hamas-led attack on Israel after the October 7 attacks in 2023.
Asked on Wednesday why he was meeting Herzog, Starmer said: “I will not give up on diplomacy, that is the politics of students.”
Wes Streeting, who is health minister in Starmer’s government, said this week that Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza was leading it to “pariah status”.
PALESTINIAN STATE
In the meeting, Herzog plans to “reject outright the positions presented by the UK recently”, including Britain’s intention to recognise a Palestinian state, saying it would reward Hamas, according to a statement from his office.
Herzog would also “express protest” over Britain’s decision in June to sanction far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, calling this decision “unacceptable”.
Starmer also hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, where they agreed there would be “absolutely no role” for Hamas in the future governance of a Palestinian state.
Britain has promised to recognise a Palestinian state ahead of the U.N. General Assembly later this month unless Israel meets four conditions, including ending the war in Gaza and allowing more aid into the Palestinian enclave.
(Reporting by Andrew MacAskillEditing by Gareth Jones)
Comments