Conversations among friends

Israel’s Ambassador joked during this week’s Conservative Friends of Israel reception that only CFI could have organised an event in Birmingham where the room temperature was hotter than Tel Aviv.

The heat was an indication of the presence of a packed-to-capacity crowd, some of whom had to queue for 20 minutes to squeeze in.

The General Election may be up for grabs, but Theresa Villiers seemed to capture the mood when she said only her party passed the test of friendship with the Jewish state during the war with Hamas.

The crowds – combined with a rise in the numbers signing up to become CFI members – offered a clear response to those who feared a more muted reception at conference.

It was precisely because of the Tories’ robust response to the threat from Hamas – reiterated on Tuesday by the Foreign Secretary – that some may have raised an eyebrow at his remark on the importance of Israel’s response to threats carrying public opinion in Europe; a public that is often not known for its understanding of Israel’s position and was understandably swayed by the deluge of horrific images emanating from Gaza.

Of course it is important Israel doesn’t lose the public and takes every step to investigate itself.

But its security must be its ultimate priority – a position that both Philip Hammond and cabinet coleagues have and continue to show a commendable understanding of.

As Ambassador Taub said, it’s with such friends that the tough conversations on the road to the peace can be most effectively had.

By Justin Cohen 

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Timing that can build bridges

By rare coincidence, Yom Kippur this year falls over the same period as the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.