No quick way back for UK-Israel relations

In 40 years of being a close observer of, and participant in, UK-Israel relations, in fair weather and foul, I had never heard the strength of official criticism of the Israeli government with which Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke last week. Describing Israel’s blockade of Gaza as “indefensible and cruel,” and “intolerable,” while also ending trade talks with Israel and summoning its ambassador to the Foreign Office, the UK’s language and actions marked a turning point in the relationship between two allies.

It is important to note what it was not. This is not support for Hamas. This is not a break in the UK’s support for the existence and safety of Israel, proved just a few months ago with the launch of aircraft to help defend the country against Iranian missiles — a mission the UK would perform today if asked.

But it was almost a cry of despair at the actions of a friend now risking much more than it appears to realize worldwide, dragging the UK into a position of complicity which its domestic politics demanded could no longer be acceptable.

The catalysts for this change were clear, and none were connected with wanting terror to win, as senior Israeli politicians claimed. There has been rising UK domestic political unease for months, from all parties in Parliament. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs chief Tom Fletcher’s speech to the UN, warning the Security Council of its responsibilities in stark terms on May 13; the media coverage of UK medical staff in Gaza and their testimony of the conditions of patients and hospitals under attack; and the pictures of obviously starving children — all counted in the minds of ministers.

But perhaps more than anything else has been the announcements by Israel of action that seemed to suggest no end to the existing catastrophe, but promised more and worse to come, from the recommencement of even more severe ground operations, and an Israeli minister’s boast that Gaza would be “cleansed” and its population displaced — described as “extremist” by the UK foreign secretary. For the UK, and importantly France and Canada — also strong and not fair-weather friends of Israel — “enough” was the one-word description.

The Israeli reaction was, I suspect, anticipated, debated in the Foreign Office, and accepted as an inevitable price. The Israeli government is extremely sensitive to any criticism, and could have been expected to denounce what the UK had said and done with a dig at history and the British Mandate and little acknowledgement of continuing and not insignificant UK support.

The Israeli reaction was accepted as an inevitable price. 

Alistair Burt

But, of course, what could not have been predicted was the outrageous murder of two young Israeli officials in Washington, a cruel coincidence of fate, which would conflate issues better kept separate. A hurt and stung Israel has said harsh things in its grief. It is highly unlikely that the foreign policy positions of the UK, France, and Canada will have influenced the murderer in whatever motives he might twistedly have possessed, but none of us know. It would be best in my view for the reaction to such remarks to end quickly, respecting the pain of the families involved. Increased bitterness surrounding them adds nothing to the resolution of issues.

It is to that resolution that the UK, and the world, should now turn its attention. There is no going back on what the UK prime minister and foreign secretary have said and what they believe. Israel’s declared way forward will not succeed in giving it security or the return of hostages, which may now be incidental to Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, but not to the UK, to families involved or to millions of Israelis. The refusal to negotiate peace by all those on both sides with an interest only in the war continuing will condemn thousands to die now, and if extremist voices are heard, condemn future generations to slaughter. And, as Washington showed, do not expect this to be confined to the region. The UK should now be demanding that “enough” is the cry of all.

The taboo in the West of governments seriously criticizing an Israeli government has gone, not because these governments are antisemitic, but precisely because they are not. They are rightly, and about time, demonstrating that you can call out the actions of a government when you think it is wrong without denying its right to exist, in the same way that you can support the right of a people to a state, without endorsing terror.

The forthcoming Saudi-French international conference has to tackle more taboos. It must not be a declaratory affair, but one that addresses the questions ducked for too long. How will Arab states that want a relationship with Israel, and a Palestinian state, practically address Israel’s security, as suggested at the UN General Assembly back in September? Who will make Israel realize that its security based on denying a Palestinian state has been illusory? Who will ensure that in return for statehood, neither Hamas nor any other ideological force denying Israel’s existence will ever have power or authority? What concrete steps will be set out to end violence and terror on the West Bank?

Israel’s best friends have taken a risk. For the sake of those dying now, and doomed to die in the future, we are running out of time for other friends to talk truth to all protagonists.

• Alistair Burt is a former UK member of Parliament who has twice held ministerial positions in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; as parliamentary undersecretary of state from 2010 to 2013 and as minister of state for the Middle East from 2017 to 2019. X: @AlistairBurtUK