Labour calls for investigation after Israeli embassy sting

The Labour Party has called on the government to launch an investigation into “improper interference” by Israel in British politics in the wake of the Al-Jazeera sting.

After an undercover journalist filmed an employee of the Israeli embassy for six months, the channel is set to run a four-part series from next Sunday revealing what  it described as attempts by the government “to influence British democracy”.

It was revealed Shai Masot was filmed  at dinner with a friend, former aide to Robert Halfon, joking about MPs to “take down” including foreign office minister Alan Duncan.

Ambassdor’s Mark Regev has apologised to Duncan for the “unacceptable” remarks and insisted they don’t represent the views of the Embassy.

But shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said: “The exposure of an Israeli embassy official discussing how to bring down or discredit a government minister and other MPs because of their views on the Middle East is extremely disturbing.
“Improper interference in our democratic politics by other states is unacceptable whichever country is involved. It is simply not good enough for the Foreign Office to say the matter is closed. This is a national security issue.”

She added: “The embassy official involved should be withdrawn, and the Government should launch an immediate inquiry into the extent of this improper interference and demand from the Israeli government that it be brought to an end.”