Sajid Javid visits Kotel, Yad Vashem and meets Netanyahu on Israel trip
Home Secretary placed a note between the stones of Jerusalem's Western Wall during his visit this week, before meeting senior Israeli leaders and praying at the Al Aqsa Mosque
Home Secretary Sajid Javid placed a note between the stones of Jerusalem’s Western Wall today during a two-day visit to Israel.
Before meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and after a “deeply moving and emotional” visit to the national Holocaust memorial and museum at Yad Vashem, Javid toured Jerusalem and became the first UK cabinet minister to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site.
He said: “Freedom of religion and belief is a non-negotiable right for all peoples, and the UK government is committed to tackling anti-Muslim hatred, antisemitism, the persecution of Christians and any other impediments to this right both in the UK and around the world.”
Javid and Netanyahu said they discussed security cooperation, and the Israeli PM thanked the home secretary for banning Hezbollah in its entirety earlier this year.
Israeli Minister of Public Security and Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan tweeted that it was “a pleasure to host my dear friend” while Javid tweeted that the UK and Israel “share an unbreakable bond”.
Important discussions with Palestinian National Authority PM @DrShtayyeh in Ramallah. A two-state solution is vital in ensuring long-term peace & security for Palestinians & Israelis pic.twitter.com/aDhLdQDl9i
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) June 30, 2019
Erdan earlier said that the pair “agreed to establish joint working groups on combating online threats such as exploitation of children and terrorist incitement, and on facing the challenge of drones”.
Javid also met with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and UN Middle East envoy Nicoklay Mladenov, when he reaffirmed that the UK “remains committed to making progress towards a two-state solution… with Jerusalem as a shared capital”.
Deeply moving & emotional visit to @yadvashem paying respect to victims of the #holocaust. We must ensure such abhorrent crimes never happen again & consign antisemitism to the history books pic.twitter.com/KpSELuMNRs
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) July 2, 2019
Important discussions with @IsraeliPM Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirming the close bond between Israel & the UK pic.twitter.com/nDW0k95wg7
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) July 1, 2019
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
