Lammy criticises Cameron over Israel sanction remarks
The foreign secretary criticised Lord Cameron 's statement in relation to Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
David Lammy has criticised his predecessor Lord Cameron for speaking about bringing sanctions against far-right Israeli ministers that he “didn’t do” when in office.
The current foreign secretary was pressed on whether the government planned to bring sanctions Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over incendiary comments about the war in Gaza.
Emily Thornberry MP, now chair of the foreign affairs select committee, told MPs in the Commons that she understood why forthcoming sanctions were kept under review by governments, but noted:”Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton tells us that before the last general election the foreign office were working up sanctions against the two most controversial government ministers.”
Thornberry then asked Lammy:”I wonder if he might be in a position to tell us when a decision might be made about these two, or if a decision has already been made?”
Responding Lammy said:”I think the previous foreign secretary was wrong to talk about particular sanctions under consideration while in office, and then didn’t do.”
He said he would not be “drawn on sanctions policy from this dispatch box” but had noted the strength of feeling for bringing sanctions against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir from many MPs.
Former Conservative foreign secretary Cameron said before the election he had been “working up” plans to put sanctions on Smotrich and Ben-Gvir during a Radio 4 Today interview.
He described the two men as “extremist” and said using sanctions would send a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that “this is not good enough and has to stop”.
Cameron said both men had “said things like encouraging people to stop aid convoys going into Gaza, they have encouraged extreme settlers in the West Bank with the appalling things they have been carrying out”.
The UK will “stand opposed” to annexation of Palestinian territory by Israel, Foreign Secretary Lammy said.
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller told MPs: “The comments last week by Finance Minister Smotrich, advocating the annexation of the West Bank, together with continuing devastation in northern Gaza, have reinforced that elements of the Israeli cabinet have no interest in a two-state solution.
“There is now a real and imminent risk that the extremists in the Israeli cabinet will succeed in annexing Palestinian Territories before any negotiations can take place. So in light of this, does the Foreign Secretary agree that now is the time to recognise Palestine?”
Lammy replied: “Annexation would be illegal and we would stand opposed to it. I want to make that fundamentally clear.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
