LFI: Keir Starmer will visit Israel ‘as soon as is possible’
Labour leader says 'past few years have been difficult' as debate around the Middle East has 'descended into hateful antisemitism'
Sir Keir Starmer will visit the Jewish stare “as soon as is possible” according to the chair of Labour Friends of Israel (LFI)
The Labour leader met with the group this week on a virtual Zoom call, where he admitted “the past few years have been difficult for members as far too often the debate on the Middle East and Israel has descended into hateful antisemitism”.
Speaking after the meeting Starmer said he is “determined to confront this, rid our party of antisemitism and ensure we conduct our political debate in a respectful and constructive manner.”
LFI chair, Steve McCabe MP, said it was “extremely positive that Keir has agreed to visit Israel with LFI as soon as is possible”, adding the Labour leader would be an “honest-broker on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”.
He added that there should be a focus on “ending the disproportionate obsession with Israel” within the party, to make Jewish members feel welcome.
McCabe also reiterated that LFI opposes “any form of boycott or sanctions against the Jewish state.”
The meeting included Baroness Meta Ramsay, Adrian Cohen, Dame Louise Ellman, Sir Trevor Chinn, Jennifer Gerber and Michael Rubin. Topics discussed included antisemitism, Israel’s security, the movement to boycott Israel, and promoting coexistence projects.
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