Sunak Israel embassy U-turn came after he was warned of total opposition to move
Well-placed source said the Prime Minister was warned 'entire governmental system' would oppose a move of the UK embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Rishi Sunak was warned that “the entire governmental system” would oppose moving the UK embassy in Israel to Jerusalem ahead of a decision to backtrack on the proposal, sources have told Jewish News.
An No.10 spokesperson confirmed on Thursday the Prime Minister had decided now not to proceed with the embassy move.
“It has been looked at,” confirmed Sunak’s spokesperson. ” There are no plans to move the British embassy.”
It followed a similar briefing about the apparent U-turn which was made to the New Arab publication on Wednesday.
A well-placed source confirmed to Jewish News that Sunak reached the decision move the embassy from its current location in Tel Aviv after being warned “the entire governmental system” would voice opposition to the plan.
“The PM was left in no doubt of the strength of opposition he would face if he continued to proceed to the embassy proposal,” added the source.
“He seemed to take on the board this message.”
It is understood that the PM also heard passionate arguments against moving the embassy from Arab diplomatic voices.
A source also suggested there were some Israeli diplomatic voices “less than enthusiastic” about any change in location.
The announcement that the “review” promised by former PM Liz Truss had been aborted came on the same day as Sunak met a group of Israeli and Gulf Arab and diplomats on Wednesday in the UK to praise the Abraham accords as the dividend of diplomacy.
“The accords have kickstarted a new era of relations in trade, tourism, security and more. This is the dividend of diplomacy,” he said.
In September ex-PM Truss had told the outgoing Israeli prime minister, Yair Lapid she was in favour of the review as the two met during the UN general assembly in New York.
During the Tory leadership election campaign both Sunak and Truss had voiced support for moving the embassy to Jerusalem at events organised by the Conservative Friends of Israel group.
Sunak was warmly applauded as he told CFI supporters of the embassy proposal”Jerusalem is “undisputedly the historic capital. Clearly, there’s a very strong case for it to be recognised … so it is something I would like to do.”
Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl also spoke in favour of the move at a CFI event at Tory Party conference.
But many in the Jewish community joined withBritish church leaders, pro-Palestinian groups, and MPs from all political parties in opposing the move.
The Board said it would not be commenting.
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