Boris Johnson: ‘We’ll always back Israel’s right to self defence’

Boris Johnson has vowed “unflinching” support for Israel’s security, saying the government will “always back Israel’s right to self defence.”

Writing in the Conservative Friends of Israel publication, Informed, the prime minister also hailed the relationship between the UK and Israel.

Johnson said that the countries’ close ties had helped battle coronavirus, saying they had “collaborated closely in order to advance our understanding of the virus and to save lives.”

He wrote: “Under this Government, the UK’s support for Israel’s security will be unflinching, and we will always back Israel’s right to self defence.

“A year on from the Abraham Accords, we can see that progress in the Middle East is possible. 

“The recent sight of Israeli and Palestinian firefighters working together to tackle wildfires near Jerusalem was a small but welcome sign of hope – and the UK stands ready to support genuine advancement towards a more positive future for both Israelis and Palestinians.”

The vow comes ahead of the Conservative Party Conference from 3-6 October in Manchester. This week, the Labour Party held its conference in Brighton. 

It saw Dame Louise Ellman welcomed back to the party by leader Sir Keir Starmer to a standing ovation.

However, some party members attempted to heckle the party leader during his speech, while Nick Dodds, the vice chair of the Walsall South local party, was later suspended after telling a Jewish News reporter after the speech that Labour had changed because Starmer’s “wife is Jewish.”