PM says it would be ‘student politics’ not to meet with President Herzog

It would be the “politics of students” not to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the Prime Minister has told MPs.

Responding to a question from the SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, who questioned why he was meeting with Herzog at Downing Street on Wednesday, Keir Starmer said:“I will not give up on diplomacy, that is the politics of students.”

Flynn, speaking at Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Commons had said:”Would he invite Vladimir Putin into No 10? Would he invite Benjamin Netanyahu into No 10?

“What does it say of this Prime Minister that he will harbour this man whilst children starve?”

The PM replied: “We have suspended arms that could be used in Gaza, we have sanctioned extremists, we suspended trade talks.

“But the point he raised is a very serious one. We all want an outcome that ensures peace, that the hostages get out, that aid gets in under a two-state outcome.

“It is the only way we will get peace in a region that has suffered conflict for a very, very long time.

“I will not give up on diplomacy, that is the politics of students.”

Speaking at PMQs on Wednesday, Starmer also said: “I condemn the strikes that Israel carried out in Doha yesterday.

“They violate Qatar’s sovereignty; they do nothing to secure the peace that the UK and so many of our allies are committed to. I spoke to the Emir of Qatar last night, soon after the attack, to convey our support and solidarity.

“He was crystal clear that, notwithstanding the attacks, he will continue to work on a diplomatic solution to achieve a ceasefire and a two-state outcome.”

The PM said he would be raising the strikes with President Herzog when he meets with him later on Wednesday.

He added: “I will be absolutely clear that we condemn Israel’s actions, I will also be clear that restrictions on aid must be lifted, the offensive in Gaza must stop, and settlement building must cease.”

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper had met with Herzog on Wednesday morning, where she raised “the urgent need both to ensure aid into Gaza, further Israeli support to British efforts to medically evacuate injured children, and fully funded scholarships to the UK”.

The UK is also backing calls for an emergency session of the UN Security Council to take place on Wednesday evening, Middle East minister Hamish Falconer later told the Commons, as he responded to an urgent question on Israel’s strikes in Qatar.

“It is vital that at such serious moments, the UN Security Council plays its full part,”  Falconer said.

Starmer came under pressure during PMQs over the appoinment of Lord Mandleson as ambassador to the US, amid further revelations about his close friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

On Tuesday, US lawmakers released a number of documents which included a letter from Lord Mandelson in which he called Epstein his “best pal”.

The PM said he retained confidence in Lord Mandelson, adding that “full due process” was followed during his appointment, and he was “playing an important role” in the UK’s relationship with the US.