Downing Street say Sunak will ‘raise appropriate concerns’ at Netanyahu meeting
Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Rishi Sunak at Downing Street on Friday, with both Israeli and British Jewish protesters gathering outside continuing to raise concerns about the proposed overhaul of Israel's judiciary
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Rishi Sunak will “raise concerns where appropriate” relating to Israel’s coalition government at a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, the UK prime minister’s spokesperson has said.
The Israeli prime minister is scheduled to hold talks with his British counterpart at Downing Street on Friday, as he arrives in the UK for a three-day visit.
Hundreds ofIsraelis and British Jews are expected to take part in an unprecedented anti-Netanyahu government protest outside Downing Street on Friday, as the meeting takes place.
During the meeting the pair are expected to both welcome the signing of a roadmap for bilateral relations between Israel and the UK stretching up until 2030, and the continuing threat posed to global security by Iran.
Asked by Jewish News if Sunak planned to raise the concerns, shared by many British Jews and Israelis residing here, over the planned judicial reforms by the Netanyahu government, a Downing Street spokesperson said that while he could not reveal what would and wouldn’t be on the agenda at Friday’s meeting, “we have raised concerns where appropriate.”
Reports in Israel, including by the Channel 12 television channel, said Sunak and British officials had not yet decided whether the British PM will publicly criticize Netanyahu’s government over its efforts to radically shake up the judiciary.
During Netanyahu’s trip to Germany earlier this month, Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged him to consider an alternative judicial reform plan put forward by President Isaac Herzog, which was subsequently rejected by the coalition.
Scholz said Germany was watching as the judicial reforms were proposed “with great concern.”
Britain’s former top civil servant Simon McDonald – who admitted he was fearful Netanyahu’s judicial reforms would “undermine democracy” in Israel when speaking at an event in Westminster this week – also said the meeting between the visiting PM and Sunak would have a “substantial agenda”.
Netanyahu, and wife Sara’s visit to London begins on Thursday afternoon and will end after Shabbat on Saturday evening, reports from Israel have confirmed.
While here the Israeli PM is not expected to meet with representatives of any of the main communal organisations including the Board of Deputies or Jewish Leadership Council.
Netanyahu has previously made it clear that he does not consider meeting with communal groups a necessity when visiting this country.
But the Board issued a statement saying they would welcome the opportunity of a meeting with Netanyahu to discuss the “ongoing situation” in Israel.
A Board spokesperson said:” Given the British Jewish community’s extremely close emotional, spiritual and familial connection to Israel, we would appreciate the opportunity to meet him to discuss the ongoing situation in the country, although we understand that given the brief nature of his visit, such a meeting may not be possible.”
The Israeli organisers of Friday’s Downing Street protest are linked to the Defend Israeli Democracy movement, that has staged mass demos inside Israel, and elsewhere across the globe to show widespread opposition to the proposed overhaul of the judiciary, which they say threatens the democratic nature of the Jewish state, and will impact on the rights of women and minority communities.
Signs could be seen stuck on walls around London giving details of the protest and saying “Bibi should not expect a relaxing weekend in London.”
It is believed to be one of the first occasions that a visiting Israeli PM has been greeted by mass protests staged by both UK Jews and Israelis living here or on visits to the UK.
Netanyahu’s trip to the UK will be his third to a European capital in as many weeks, after his visit to Berlin this week and Rome last weekend, where he was also met with protests.
Netanyahu also visited Paris last month.
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