Talks between shadow Middle East minister and deputy Israel envoy 'positive and constructive'

Talks between Labour’s Shadow Middle East Minister Bambos Charalambous and Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to the UK Oren Marmorstein have been hailed by both sides as being “very positive and constructive.”

In a sign of the Israeli Embassy’s growing confidence in Labour under Sir Keir Starmer, Marmorstein than the Labour MP for what he said had been “a wonderful meeting” on Tuesday – in which the pair had discussed human rights issues, new opportunities presented by the Abraham Accords and the threat of Iran.

The meeting between the due took place as Theresa Villiers, co-chairwoman of Conservative Friends of Israel, had criticised Charalambous, over a statement he had released in response to an Amnesty International report on Israel that attempted to use the “apartheid” smear.

Thank you @Bambos_MP for a wonderful meeting yesterday in which we discussed new opportunities in the #MiddleEast, such as the #AbrahamAccords, as well as regional threats and challenges.
Looking forward to continuing this important dialogue. https://t.co/oR1sKTHQYy pic.twitter.com/fdX6TKIH80

— Oren Marmorstein (@OrenMarmorstein) February 2, 2022

In a statement released to coincide with the Amnesty report’s release the MP said he would read it and he also called for an end to “the injustices at the heart of this conflict” and talked about the “extensive discrimination faced by Palestinians especially in the West Bank and Gaza”.

But after the meeting with the MP Israel’s deputy ambassador said he was “looking forward to continuing this important dialogue” with Labour’s new shadow minister for the region.

Charalambous told Jewish News that along with security and human rights concerns, the pair had spoken of”how the UK can support steps towards a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.”

Theresa Villiers, co-chairwoman of Conservative Friends of Israel, had earlier criticised the MP over his statement on Amnesty saying: “It is disturbing that Labour’s Shadow Minister on the Middle East is suggesting that Palestinians face ‘extensive discrimination’ in Israel.

“This is not true and I hope he will think again about his statement. Israeli Arab citizens are given equal rights and are even part of the governing coalition.”