Cooper presses Israel on Lebanon, Palestine and death penalty in call with Sa’ar

Britain’s Foreign Secretary has warned Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar over escalating its military operations in Lebanon as the pair discussed Iran’s reckless ongoing strikes, the Foreign Office has said.

In a readout of her call with the Israeli foreign minister, Foreign Secretary Yvetter Cooper is revealed to have warned Sa’ar “against escalation and expressed concern for the humanitarian situation and mass displacement of civilians in Lebanon”.

“The Foreign Secretary spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar about Iran’s reckless ongoing strikes, to express deep concern for Israel’s intention to expand its ground operations in Lebanon and to condemn the scourge of antisemitism,” said the text.

“The two ministers discussed the regional conflict and the Foreign Secretary condemned attacks on Israel by Lebanese Hezballah and the Houthis.

“She warned against escalation and expressed concern for the humanitarian situation and mass displacement of civilians in Lebanon.”

In an earlier post on the conversation, Sa’ar had revealed he had warned thecabinet minister about the rise of violent antisemitic attacks, including last week’s Golders Green Hatzola arson incident.

In the FCDO readout, Cooper is confirmed to have condemned “the scourge of antisemitism” and reiterated the Keir Starmer government’s “commitment to tackling antisemitism and maintaining close security cooperation with Israel.”

But in words unlikely to have impressed her Israeli counterpart, the Foreign Secretary also raised “the deteriorating situation across Palestine, including settler violence.”

In a further rebuke, Cooper set out the UK’s firm opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances and emphasised her concern about proposed legislation in Israel to expand the possibilities for its use.

She urged against any move to extend it.

In a post on X earlier on Monday, Sa’ar said he also used the call with the Foreign Secretary to mention a recent article by former UK PM Tony Blair, who had “pointed to the connection between the irresponsible delegitimisation of Israel and the rise of antisemitism in the West.”

Sa’ar wrote: “I expressed concern over the rise in violent antisemitic incidents in the UK.”

After referencing the Blair article, Sa’ar revealed he had also raised concerns about the Lebanese government’s actions in relation to the conflict with Iran.

“I drew the Foreign Secretary’s attention to the troubling fact that the Lebanese Foreign Ministry’s decision to expel the Iranian ambassador has remained on paper only,” he said.

“Just as the Lebanese government’s decision to disarm Hezbollah has also remained on paper only.

“Just as the Lebanese army’s statement three months ago claiming it had achieved ‘operational control’ in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River was baseless.

“In contrast, the 5,000 missiles, rockets, and drones fired at Israel since March 2nd are entirely real. Israel has the right to defend itself and will continue to act to protect its citizens.”