ummtaalib Posted July 20 Author Report Share Posted July 20 Israeli settlers launch mass outpost construction operationHundreds of Israeli settlers set out across the occupied West Bank on Wednesday to take part in an unprecedented effort to erect a number of illegal settlement outposts in the territory. Led by Daniella Weiss, a leader of the religious-Zionist and settler movements and an advocate of an “Arab-free” Jewish state, the plans started as a goal of establishing “10 Evyatars” - named after the Evyatar outpost in Beita, what the group considers to be one of its most successful settlement projects in years. Although technically illegal under Israeli law, the new campaign appears to have Far-right Israeli settlers have tacit government support, and is bringing a new wave of violence against Palestinian along with it. Read more here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted July 21 Author Report Share Posted July 21 On 7/20/2022 at 6:41 PM, ummtaalib said: Israeli settlers launch mass outpost construction operationHundreds of Israeli settlers set out across the occupied West Bank on Wednesday to take part in an unprecedented effort to erect a number of illegal settlement outposts in the territory. Led by Daniella Weiss, a leader of the religious-Zionist and settler movements and an advocate of an “Arab-free” Jewish state, the plans started as a goal of establishing “10 Evyatars” - named after the Evyatar outpost in Beita, what the group considers to be one of its most successful settlement projects in years. Although technically illegal under Israeli law, the new campaign appears to have Far-right Israeli settlers have tacit government support, and is bringing a new wave of violence against Palestinian along with it. Read more here Update Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted July 25 Author Report Share Posted July 25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted August 3 Author Report Share Posted August 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted August 5 Author Report Share Posted August 5 Gaza under attack! Eight Palestinians were killed, including a 5 years old child, and dozens were injured after targeting a residential building by an Israeli airstrike in #Gaza. 5.8.2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted August 6 Author Report Share Posted August 6 17 hours ago, ummtaalib said: Gaza under attack! Eight Palestinians were killed, including a 5 years old child, and dozens were injured after targeting a residential building by an Israeli airstrike in #Gaza. 5.8.2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted August 7 Author Report Share Posted August 7 Bombing Gaza & Israeli elections Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted August 7 Author Report Share Posted August 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted August 12 Author Report Share Posted August 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted August 16 Author Report Share Posted August 16 Israel admits to killing 5 children in a raid on a cemetery in Gaza Israel admitted responsibility for killing five Palestinian children in an air strike on the Fallujah cemetery in the town of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on 7 August, after it had initially claimed they were killed as a result of a missile fired by Islamic Jihad. "Israeli defence officials have confirmed that Israel was responsible for the deaths of five minors killed on the last day of the recent hostilities with Islamic Jihad this month," reported Haaretz newspaper today. "An army inquiry into the incident, which occurred on August 7 in the Al-Faluja Cemetery east of Jabalya, has concluded that the minors were killed by an Israeli airstrike, several defence sources have confirmed," added the newspaper. It also reported that "Immediately after their deaths, several senior officers said the five were most likely killed by a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket." On the other hand, the newspaper indicated that an army investigation concluded that another incident, which resulted in the killing of eight Palestinian civilians, including children, that occurred on a day earlier was a result of a "misfired Islamic Jihad rocket." The newspaper stated: "The Palestinians had claimed the eight were killed by Israel, but the army quickly released evidence indicating that they were actually killed by Islamic Jihad." Israeli army spokesman Ran Kochav said: "We didn't conduct any strikes in that area, not in urban areas and not at that time." The five victims in the air strike on the cemetery were identified as Jamil Al-Din Nijm, 3, Jamil Ihab Nijm, 13, Mohammad Salah Nijm, 16, Hamed Haidar Nijm, 16, and Nathmi Abu Karsh, 15. Over the course of three days from 5-7 August, the Israeli army launched raids on the Gaza Strip, which, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, resulted in the death of 49 people, including 17 children and four women, and 360 injuries.Source Quote Speaking to Al Jazeera after the August 7 killings, Hamed Najim’s mother noted the attack came just hours before a ceasefire, which has since held, went into effect. “Just two hours before the truce was announced, he told me he would go out for five minutes with his cousins,” she said. “Moments went by and then we heard a bombing. We ran out to find my son and his three cousins. They were all cut up into pieces.”Al-Jazeera Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Israel admits to killing 5 children in a raid on a cemetery in Gaza Israel admitted responsibility for killing five Palestinian children in an air strike on the Fallujah cemetery in the town of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on 7 August, after it had initially claimed they were killed as a result of a missile fired by Islamic Jihad. "Israeli defence officials have confirmed that Israel was responsible for the deaths of five minors killed on the last day of the recent hostilities with Islamic Jihad this month," reported Haaretz newspaper today. "An army inquiry into the incident, which occurred on August 7 in the Al-Faluja Cemetery east of Jabalya, has concluded that the minors were killed by an Israeli airstrike, several defence sources have confirmed," added the newspaper. It also reported that "Immediately after their deaths, several senior officers said the five were most likely killed by a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket." On the other hand, the newspaper indicated that an army investigation concluded that another incident, which resulted in the killing of eight Palestinian civilians, including children, that occurred on a day earlier was a result of a "misfired Islamic Jihad rocket." The newspaper stated: "The Palestinians had claimed the eight were killed by Israel, but the army quickly released evidence indicating that they were actually killed by Islamic Jihad." Israeli army spokesman Ran Kochav said: "We didn't conduct any strikes in that area, not in urban areas and not at that time." The five victims in the air strike on the cemetery were identified as Jamil Al-Din Nijm, 3, Jamil Ihab Nijm, 13, Mohammad Salah Nijm, 16, Hamed Haidar Nijm, 16, and Nathmi Abu Karsh, 15. Over the course of three days from 5-7 August, the Israeli army launched raids on the Gaza Strip, which, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, resulted in the death of 49 people, including 17 children and four women, and 360 injuries.Source Quote Speaking to Al Jazeera after the August 7 killings, Hamed Najim’s mother noted the attack came just hours before a ceasefire, which has since held, went into effect. “Just two hours before the truce was announced, he told me he would go out for five minutes with his cousins,” she said. “Moments went by and then we heard a bombing. We ran out to find my son and his three cousins. They were all cut up into pieces.”Al-Jazeera
ummtaalib Posted August 18 Author Report Share Posted August 18 Israeli ethnic cleansing and Demolitions continue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted August 18 Author Report Share Posted August 18 Turkey, Israel to restore full diplomatic relations Move comes after gradual efforts to restore ties, including a visit by the Israeli president to Turkey in March. Turkey and Israel have agreed to restore full diplomatic relations and will return ambassadors to each other’s countries following a gradual improvement in relations. The announcement on Wednesday followed a conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It comes four years after the two countries expelled ambassadors over the killing of 60 Palestinians by Israeli forces during protests on the Gaza border against the opening of the United States Embassy in Jerusalem. “It was decided to once again upgrade the level of the relations between the two countries to that of full diplomatic ties and to return ambassadors and consuls general,” a statement from Lapid’s office said. “Upgrading relations will contribute to deepening ties between the two peoples, expanding economic, trade, and cultural ties, and strengthening regional stability,” it added. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in Ankara that the appointment of ambassadors was “one of the steps for the normalisation of ties”. “Such a positive step came from Israel, and as a result of these efforts, and as Turkey, we also decided to appoint an ambassador to Israel, to Tel Aviv,” he said. Cavusoglu added that the move did not mean that Turkey would be abandoning the Palestinian cause. “We have always said we will continue to defend the rights of Palestine, Jerusalem and Gaza. It’s important that our messages are conveyed at the ambassadorial level in Tel Aviv,” he said. The thaw in ties comes after more than 10 years of tensions. A visit to Turkey by Israeli President Isaac Herzog in March, followed by visits by both foreign ministers, helped warm relations. Al Jazeera’s Resul Sardar, reporting from Istanbul, said economic and security factors were at play. “In one year, there will be a presidential election here in Turkey. But with inflation at more than 70 percent, Ankara wants to attract investment from regional countries. There are security challenges, too, in Syria and the eastern Mediterranean basin. Turkey sees Israel as a strong player, and for Israel, Turkey is seen as a balancing power in a region threatened by Iran.” But even with the full restoration of diplomatic ties, the Palestinian issue was likely to remain a “contentious difference” between the two countries, he added. The move, which comes as Israel has sought to improve ties with regional powers, was agreed upon two years after the so-called Abraham Accords which saw relations normalised between Israel, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Morocco. Turkey also launched a charm offensive in 2020 to repair ties with estranged rivals, making overtures to Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Efforts with Cairo have so far yielded little progress, but officials have said normalisation work with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are going well.Al-Jazeera Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkey, Israel to restore full diplomatic relations Move comes after gradual efforts to restore ties, including a visit by the Israeli president to Turkey in March. Turkey and Israel have agreed to restore full diplomatic relations and will return ambassadors to each other’s countries following a gradual improvement in relations. The announcement on Wednesday followed a conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It comes four years after the two countries expelled ambassadors over the killing of 60 Palestinians by Israeli forces during protests on the Gaza border against the opening of the United States Embassy in Jerusalem. “It was decided to once again upgrade the level of the relations between the two countries to that of full diplomatic ties and to return ambassadors and consuls general,” a statement from Lapid’s office said. “Upgrading relations will contribute to deepening ties between the two peoples, expanding economic, trade, and cultural ties, and strengthening regional stability,” it added. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in Ankara that the appointment of ambassadors was “one of the steps for the normalisation of ties”. “Such a positive step came from Israel, and as a result of these efforts, and as Turkey, we also decided to appoint an ambassador to Israel, to Tel Aviv,” he said. Cavusoglu added that the move did not mean that Turkey would be abandoning the Palestinian cause. “We have always said we will continue to defend the rights of Palestine, Jerusalem and Gaza. It’s important that our messages are conveyed at the ambassadorial level in Tel Aviv,” he said. The thaw in ties comes after more than 10 years of tensions. A visit to Turkey by Israeli President Isaac Herzog in March, followed by visits by both foreign ministers, helped warm relations. Al Jazeera’s Resul Sardar, reporting from Istanbul, said economic and security factors were at play. “In one year, there will be a presidential election here in Turkey. But with inflation at more than 70 percent, Ankara wants to attract investment from regional countries. There are security challenges, too, in Syria and the eastern Mediterranean basin. Turkey sees Israel as a strong player, and for Israel, Turkey is seen as a balancing power in a region threatened by Iran.” But even with the full restoration of diplomatic ties, the Palestinian issue was likely to remain a “contentious difference” between the two countries, he added. The move, which comes as Israel has sought to improve ties with regional powers, was agreed upon two years after the so-called Abraham Accords which saw relations normalised between Israel, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Morocco. Turkey also launched a charm offensive in 2020 to repair ties with estranged rivals, making overtures to Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Efforts with Cairo have so far yielded little progress, but officials have said normalisation work with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are going well.Al-Jazeera
ummtaalib Posted August 18 Author Report Share Posted August 18 Israeli occupation closes down 7 Palestinian human rights and humanitarian organizations Media coverage: "Offices of at least 7 Palestinian civil and human rights organizations were stormed and sabotaged by Israeli forces in Ramallah early this morning. The forces also confiscated office items and machinery from the headquarters." These photos were taken from Defence for Children International, Palestine. Quote The United Nations Human Rights Office today expressed alarm at Israeli occupation' arbitrary closure of seven Palestinian human rights and humanitarian organizations and called on Israeli occupation to immediately reverse these decisions, reiterating the High Commissioner’s call to revoke the designations of the organizations as “terrorist” and “unlawful.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted August 24 Author Report Share Posted August 24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted August 28 Author Report Share Posted August 28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted August 31 Author Report Share Posted August 31 Ongoing Isra-helli oppression...Destruction of olive trees continues The Israeli occupation forces destroy around 100 olive trees in the village of Gwuen, southern Hebron hills. 25.8.2022www.instagram.com/p/ChsEVRuleSL/Death preferable to detention without charge or trial The European Union: "Shocked by the horrific images of Khalil Awadeh, who has been on hunger strike for 179 days in protest against his detention without charge, as he is facing imminent risk of death, and we call for his immediate release."Settler violence Uri Shouri, an Israeli settler threatened a Palestinian family with a machete on a road in northern "Israel". The mother, father and their child were in the family car. (Video shows terrified, crying child while the settler is seen shouting with the machete in his hand)www.instagram.com/p/Ch15ALGKrPl/Back to school with just one eye "With the beginning of the new school year in Palestine, Palestinian student Arij Asaliya returns to her school with only one eye after she lost her right eye in an Israeli airstrike during the recent Israeli onslaught on Gaza."www.instagram.com/p/Ch1l43Dqi1z/Continued ethnic cleansing of Masafer Yatta The whole world needs to watch what I just saw: "Israelis" preventing a group of 10-year-olds, on their way to school with teachers, from entering their OWN VILLAGE because the Israeli Occupying Forces made it a "firing zone". All families face ethnic cleansing in Masafer Yatta for this reason.www.instagram.com/p/Ch6dxuTj6XH/ This is how sick the Apartheid regime is in 2022: A kid detained, in the 3rd grade, in front of a tank, just because he lives in Masafer Yata. The "firing zone" is a hoax, it was declared with the purpose to evict us, Ariel Sharon said in a secret document recently uncovered. In May, occupation court ruled: mass eviction of Masafer Yatta. The reason? The army wants our land to make a training zone. Since then: schools got demolition orders, kids detained daily, family homes razed every week. Settlers growing around us.www.instagram.com/p/Ch6gx2SMU1j/ Settler thugs pepper-spray my friend, a shepard, and hit him with stones. He yells for help. Soldiers come. What do they do? Throw stun grenades at us who came to film. Apartheid could not be uglier in Masafer Yatta and Palestine.www.instagram.com/p/CgFQF1iKxEJ/ Military raids, house demolitions, arrests without charge and trial, settler violence, apartheid.... Palestine: "Not trending but still suffering" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted September 1 Author Report Share Posted September 1 Quote Death preferable to detention without charge or trial The European Union: "Shocked by the horrific images of Khalil Awadeh, who has been on hunger strike for 179 days in protest against his detention without charge, as he is facing imminent risk of death, and we call for his immediate release." "Palestinian administrative detainee in Israeli jails #KhalilAwawdeh flashes victory sign after reaching an agreement with the Israeli occupation authorities to suspended his hunger strike, which continued for 172 days, and to release him on 02 Oct 2022." https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch7tvPFsAkn/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted September 11 Author Report Share Posted September 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted September 19 Author Report Share Posted September 19 Settler plans during their holidays All eyes on Alquds What are the settlers' plans during their incursion to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in their claimed holidays from Sep 26 to Oct 17, 2022? Trumpet blowing Performing Talmudic rituals Storming Al-Aqsa is white priestly clothes Entering vegetarian sacrifices Incursions in large scaleswww.instagram.com/p/CiqhJfNhP9k/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted September 23 Author Report Share Posted September 23 PM Truss considering relocation of British embassy to Jerusalem British Prime Minister Liz Truss has told her Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid that she is considering moving the British embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem, a move that would break Britain’s long-standing policy on Israel-Palestine. During the meeting on Wednesday in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Truss informed Lapid “about her review of the current location of the British Embassy in Israel,” according to a statement put out by the prime minister's office. During the Tory leadership contest, Truss, then foreign secretary, made similar comments in a letter to an influential lobby group, the Conservative Friends of Israel, saying she was inclined to relocate the embassy to the contested city of Jerusalem. "I understand the importance and sensitivity of the location of the British Embassy in Israel," Truss said at the time. In her letter, the foreign minister also promised to “cement” Britain’s ties with Israel by expediting a Free Trade Agreement being drafted by the government. Boosting bilateral cooperation In their meeting on Wednesday, Truss and Lapid discussed boosting bilateral cooperation, including in the fields of defence, cyber security, trade, and green technology. They also agreed to set up teams to negotiate the free-trade agreement as quickly as possible. Britain has long maintained its embassy in Israel in Tel Aviv, even after Israel declared Jerusalem as its capital, as part of a longstanding policy that the city's final status should be decided following negotiations. In 1967 Israel occupied and annexed the eastern part of the city of Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim as the capital of a future state, in a move that has never been recognised by the international community. If the British Embassy is moved, Truss would be following in the footsteps of former US President Donald Trump who, in defiance of international law, moved the American embassy to Jerusalem in 2017, a move that formally recognised Israel's sovereignty over the city. Truss had also previously vowed a further crackdown on the international boycott movement, backing a bill to prevent public bodies, including local councils, from joining the BDS campaign to divest funds from Israel for its illegal activities in the occupied territories.Source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PM Truss considering relocation of British embassy to Jerusalem British Prime Minister Liz Truss has told her Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid that she is considering moving the British embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem, a move that would break Britain’s long-standing policy on Israel-Palestine. During the meeting on Wednesday in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Truss informed Lapid “about her review of the current location of the British Embassy in Israel,” according to a statement put out by the prime minister's office. During the Tory leadership contest, Truss, then foreign secretary, made similar comments in a letter to an influential lobby group, the Conservative Friends of Israel, saying she was inclined to relocate the embassy to the contested city of Jerusalem. "I understand the importance and sensitivity of the location of the British Embassy in Israel," Truss said at the time. In her letter, the foreign minister also promised to “cement” Britain’s ties with Israel by expediting a Free Trade Agreement being drafted by the government. Boosting bilateral cooperation In their meeting on Wednesday, Truss and Lapid discussed boosting bilateral cooperation, including in the fields of defence, cyber security, trade, and green technology. They also agreed to set up teams to negotiate the free-trade agreement as quickly as possible. Britain has long maintained its embassy in Israel in Tel Aviv, even after Israel declared Jerusalem as its capital, as part of a longstanding policy that the city's final status should be decided following negotiations. In 1967 Israel occupied and annexed the eastern part of the city of Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim as the capital of a future state, in a move that has never been recognised by the international community. If the British Embassy is moved, Truss would be following in the footsteps of former US President Donald Trump who, in defiance of international law, moved the American embassy to Jerusalem in 2017, a move that formally recognised Israel's sovereignty over the city. Truss had also previously vowed a further crackdown on the international boycott movement, backing a bill to prevent public bodies, including local councils, from joining the BDS campaign to divest funds from Israel for its illegal activities in the occupied territories.Source
ummtaalib Posted September 24 Author Report Share Posted September 24 Installation of the "Smart shooter" This week the occupation installed a permanent automatic weapon, called the ‘Smart Shooter’. Which is able to shoot various types of munition at all times.This weapon is normally used in border areas, but now also in the densely populated city of Al Khalil (Hebron).Hundreds of Palestinians pass this area on a daily basis. For example to go to work, home and school. Eye On Palestine (@eye.on.palestine) • Instagram photos and videos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted October 5 Author Report Share Posted October 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted October 12 Author Report Share Posted October 12 Jerusalem refugee camps of Shuafat and Anata under siege for the 4th day after killing of an Israeli soldier Saturday’s shooting at the checkpoint at the Palestinian refugee camp of Shuafat in occupied East Jerusalem came after Israeli forces killed four Palestinian teenagers in the last 24 hours amid near-daily Israeli raids in Palestinian territories. More than 114 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since the beginning of the year in the occupied West Bank in the deadliest violence in seven years. The United Nations on Saturday warned that “mounting violence” in the occupied Palestinian territory was “fuelling a climate of fear, hatred and anger”. Israeli police said the alleged gunman was driven to the checkpoint by an accomplice. He got out of the car, opened fire and ran into the camp as the driver sped away. Full details at Al-Jazeera Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted November 1 Author Report Share Posted November 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummtaalib Posted November 6 Author Report Share Posted November 6 UK government says 'no current plan' to move embassy in Israel to Jerusalem Downing Street u-turn comes after ex-prime minister Liz Truss had pledged to review location of embassy in Tel Aviv United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has dumped plans to shift the country's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In a shock development, a Downing Street spokesperson told foreign journalists at a press briefing on Wednesday that the controversial plan to shift the embassy had been dropped. A spokesperson told Middle East Eye "there are no current plans to change the location of our embassy". The spokesperson did not say whether an official review into the potential move, set in motion by Rishi Sunak's predecessor, Liz Truss, had been abandoned. However, MEE understands from Conservative Party sources that Downing Street would not have been so emphatic if the inquiry was ongoing. MEE also understands that UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned strongly against moving the embassy. The Palestinian ambassador to London, Husam Zomlot, welcomed the news, remarking: "The question about the location of the UK's embassy should never have been asked in the first place." Some will see the decision as the latest in a series of u-turns by Sunak, who has been prime minister since 25 October, following his change of heart about whether to attend the COP27 summit in Egypt. During the contest to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative leader, Sunak was asked about Britain recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He replied: "To me, it's indisputably the historic capital… it seems to me that there is a very strong case to it, to recognise what is a historic and practical step." He added: "It would be something where we'd be acting in concert with our allies in the region and, in general, one of our closest allies, so it's something I'd like to do." As exclusively revealed by MEE, the British government already holds land in the Talpiot neighbourhood of Jerusalem, known as the Orange Plot, earmarked for decades as a possible embassy site. Change of heart The statement by Downing Street came hours before Sunak spoke at an event co-organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews to mark the second anniversary of the normalisation agreements, known as the Abraham Accords, between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. The event was attended by ambassadors to the UK from the four countries as well as ministers from the UAE and Bahrain. Sunak said: “Today we send a clear message about our commitment to the accords and all they represent. The accords have kickstarted a new era of relations in trade, tourism, security, and more and this is the dividend of diplomacy. "This would have been impossible just a few years ago, but it does show how we can transform peace and stability in the region. The UK is committed to working with you all to take this initiative from strength to strength.” Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl last month urged Truss, Sunak's predecessor, to press ahead with moving the embassy to Jerusalem at a reception attended by the then-prime minister at the Conservatives' party conference, organised by the pro-Israel lobby group Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI). Van der Zyl told the audience: "We are really hopeful that the government is going to move the embassy, like America, to Jerusalem - the capital of Israel." Sunak's volte-face comes as a blow to the CFI. As MEE revealed, James Gurd, the director of CFI, went to the trouble of sending a briefing note to MPs making the case for a move along with a "suggested casework response" for MPs to send to constituents. But plans for the change ran into opposition from religious leaders. The Archbishop of Canterbury told MEE of his concern about "the potential impact of moving the British Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem before a negotiated settlement between Palestinians and Israelis has been reached". In an unprecedented move, senior Muslim figures in Jerusalem wrote to King Charles expressing their "deep concern" about the consequences of moving the embassy from its current location. One Kuwaiti MP, Osama al-Shaheen, also warned that such a move could scupper the free trade agreement between the UK and the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council - which includes Kuwait - due to be signed by the end of the year. The Downing Street change of heart was welcomed by Conservative Friends of Palestine. A spokesperson told MEE: "We welcome the news that common sense has prevailed, and that the prime minister is becoming aware of the sensitivities involved and legal issues surrounding the matter." Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, told MEE on Wednesday: "Just contemplating moving the British embassy to Israel was rash and reckless, akin to tossing a hand grenade into a volcano. Britain was messing with the future of Jerusalem, perhaps the most contested city on earth. "It returns Britain to the long-standing international consensus that the fate of Jerusalem must be decided through negotiation, leading to a solution that is inclusive of all stakeholders, Israeli, Palestinian, Christian, Muslim and Jewish - rather than one single party," he added.middleeasteye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK government says 'no current plan' to move embassy in Israel to Jerusalem Downing Street u-turn comes after ex-prime minister Liz Truss had pledged to review location of embassy in Tel Aviv United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has dumped plans to shift the country's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In a shock development, a Downing Street spokesperson told foreign journalists at a press briefing on Wednesday that the controversial plan to shift the embassy had been dropped. A spokesperson told Middle East Eye "there are no current plans to change the location of our embassy". The spokesperson did not say whether an official review into the potential move, set in motion by Rishi Sunak's predecessor, Liz Truss, had been abandoned. However, MEE understands from Conservative Party sources that Downing Street would not have been so emphatic if the inquiry was ongoing. MEE also understands that UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned strongly against moving the embassy. The Palestinian ambassador to London, Husam Zomlot, welcomed the news, remarking: "The question about the location of the UK's embassy should never have been asked in the first place." Some will see the decision as the latest in a series of u-turns by Sunak, who has been prime minister since 25 October, following his change of heart about whether to attend the COP27 summit in Egypt. During the contest to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative leader, Sunak was asked about Britain recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He replied: "To me, it's indisputably the historic capital… it seems to me that there is a very strong case to it, to recognise what is a historic and practical step." He added: "It would be something where we'd be acting in concert with our allies in the region and, in general, one of our closest allies, so it's something I'd like to do." As exclusively revealed by MEE, the British government already holds land in the Talpiot neighbourhood of Jerusalem, known as the Orange Plot, earmarked for decades as a possible embassy site. Change of heart The statement by Downing Street came hours before Sunak spoke at an event co-organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews to mark the second anniversary of the normalisation agreements, known as the Abraham Accords, between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. The event was attended by ambassadors to the UK from the four countries as well as ministers from the UAE and Bahrain. Sunak said: “Today we send a clear message about our commitment to the accords and all they represent. The accords have kickstarted a new era of relations in trade, tourism, security, and more and this is the dividend of diplomacy. "This would have been impossible just a few years ago, but it does show how we can transform peace and stability in the region. The UK is committed to working with you all to take this initiative from strength to strength.” Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl last month urged Truss, Sunak's predecessor, to press ahead with moving the embassy to Jerusalem at a reception attended by the then-prime minister at the Conservatives' party conference, organised by the pro-Israel lobby group Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI). Van der Zyl told the audience: "We are really hopeful that the government is going to move the embassy, like America, to Jerusalem - the capital of Israel." Sunak's volte-face comes as a blow to the CFI. As MEE revealed, James Gurd, the director of CFI, went to the trouble of sending a briefing note to MPs making the case for a move along with a "suggested casework response" for MPs to send to constituents. But plans for the change ran into opposition from religious leaders. The Archbishop of Canterbury told MEE of his concern about "the potential impact of moving the British Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem before a negotiated settlement between Palestinians and Israelis has been reached". In an unprecedented move, senior Muslim figures in Jerusalem wrote to King Charles expressing their "deep concern" about the consequences of moving the embassy from its current location. One Kuwaiti MP, Osama al-Shaheen, also warned that such a move could scupper the free trade agreement between the UK and the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council - which includes Kuwait - due to be signed by the end of the year. The Downing Street change of heart was welcomed by Conservative Friends of Palestine. A spokesperson told MEE: "We welcome the news that common sense has prevailed, and that the prime minister is becoming aware of the sensitivities involved and legal issues surrounding the matter." Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, told MEE on Wednesday: "Just contemplating moving the British embassy to Israel was rash and reckless, akin to tossing a hand grenade into a volcano. Britain was messing with the future of Jerusalem, perhaps the most contested city on earth. "It returns Britain to the long-standing international consensus that the fate of Jerusalem must be decided through negotiation, leading to a solution that is inclusive of all stakeholders, Israeli, Palestinian, Christian, Muslim and Jewish - rather than one single party," he added.middleeasteye
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now