Shadow Middle East Minister makes first visit to Israel with LFI
Bambos Charalambous told Israel Labor colleagues of the party's "steadfast commitment to a negotiated two-state solution" to the conflict with the Palestinians.
Laour’s Bambos Charalambous has revealed he was “delighted to visit Israel this week” – his first visit to the region as shadow minister for the Middle East.
The Enfield Southgate MP said the UK’s relationship with Israel was “hugely important” to “both Labour and to the country and as a whole.”
He added the “busy itinerary left me with a deeper understanding of Israeli perspectives, as well as the opportunities and challenges faced by the broader Middle East region.”
Charalambous had flown to Israel with Labour Friends of Israel chair Steve McCabe MP, with the pair visited Yad Vashem and taking part in a wreath laying ceremony.
The pair had meetings with deputy foreign minister Idan Roll and other officials and had party meetings with Israeli Labor parliamentarians.
Charalambous and McCabe were also given a briefing with Professor Boaz Ganor, founder and executive director of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism.
Both Labour MPs personally expressed their sympathy and solidarity to the Israeli Labor counterparts on Tuesday with regard to the terror attack in Beersheba that left four people dead.
On Thursday the pair are due to meet with Abie Moses, national chairman of the Organisation for the Victims of Terrorism in Herzliya, where the matter of Israel’s security was set to be discussed further.
Charalambos told Jewish News: “I have had important discussions about the work of people-to-people groups, economic ties and innovation, relations with the Arab world, Israel’s security concerns, the path back to a peace process, as well as reaffirming the importance of our sister relationship with the Israeli Labor party.
“I made clear that the Labour Party remains steadfast in our commitment to a negotiated two-state solution based on international law and human rights, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a sovereign and viable Palestinian state.”
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