Israelis write to UK foreign secretary to raise concerns over bilateral roadmap

A group of senior Israeli political figures, including a former attorney-general and ex-envoys, have written to foreign secretary James Cleverly expressing their “deep disappointment” at the “business as usual” approach of the UK government towards Israel.

Focusing on the recent signing by Cleverly and his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen of a roadmap aiming to deepen bilateral relations up until 2030, the letter cites a failure to mention “the fact that Israel’s democracy is under severe threat from the very government that Eli Cohen is part of. ”

It also suggests that a commitment to “strengthening academic ties with universities” has been agreed “regardless of the geographic location of Israeli universities, meaning those situated over the Green Line will not be exempt. ”

The nine signatories – who include Prof. Eli Barnavi, former Israeli ambassador to France, Ilan Baruch, former Israeli ambassador to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe and Nimrod Novik, former senior advisor on foreign policy to prime minister Shimon Peres – state in the letter:”At a time when Israel’s leaders are pushing ahead with annexation plans this roadmap is helping to make the dream of annexation a reality. ”

Cleverly and Cohen signed the roadmap last month, but both the Labour and Liberal Democrats in the UK have raised concerns about the agreement.

The letter has been sent to Cleverly this week.

It adds:”Britain is a friend of Israel.

“Yet this ‘business as usual’ approach not only ignores the hundreds of thousands of Israelis struggling for Israel’s soul, it does worse – it allows this extremist government to tell the Israeli public that no-one outside of Israel cares, that they have free reign from our allies abroad to continue down this destructive path.

“By signing this roadmap you have helped to fuel and empower the very people who are destroying our country.

“We are deeply disappointed that you are not supporting those of us on the streets day in and day out and are instead actively encouraging the very extremists who pose the gravest threat Israel has ever faced. “