LFI takes biggest delegation in over a decade to Israel
LFI vice-chair Catherine McKinnell MP said that at Yad Vashem 'Standing in the Hall of Names is the most powerful reminder of the importance of Israel to Jewish people throughout the world as the ultimate safe haven'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The Labour Friends of Israel group has flown out its biggest delegation in over a decade to the region for meetings, including one withIsraeli president Isaac Herzog
A group – including Dame Margaret Hodge MP, Catherine McKinnell MP, Taiwo Owatemi MP, Christian Wakeford MP and Alex Davies-Jones MP, and James Frith, former MP for Bury North take part in this week’s five day visit.
The delegation was led by LFI chair Steve McCabe MP.
Newcastle North MP McKinnell, an LFI vice-chair, and a staunch campaigner against antisemtism in the party under Jeremy Corbyn, was on her first visit to the region.
She told Jewish News:”. At Yad Vashem, I was honoured to lay a wreath in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Standing in the Hall of Names is the most powerful reminder of the importance of Israel to Jewish people throughout the world as the ultimate safe haven.
“As a long-standing supporter of a two-state solution and the need to build people-to-people coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians, it was a pleasure to meet the inspirational Tech2Peace and hear about the crucial work they are doing in support of peace and reconciliation.
“Of course, our delegation comes at a time of great challenge for Israel and we have been able to provide our support to those Israelis – including our sister party Israeli Labor – working to protect and uphold the values enshrined in Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
“Ultimately, this visit has reinforced my belief that the complexities and nuances of this region are best understood and appreciated by seeing the situation on the ground first hand – and speaking to Israelis and Palestinians themselves.”
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