LABOUR have been accused of a “complete lack of judgement” after two senior figures met with Israeli politician Merav Michaeli, who once warned Israel was losing its "essence" by "mixing with" Palestinians.
The Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) lobbying group shared photos of Michaeli meeting with Middle East minister Hamish Falconer while she was in London.
The group also reported she met with Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
Former Israeli Labor leader Michaeli tweeted in September 2022 that “the greatest danger” to Israel is the “loss of our essence as a Jewish and democratic state due to mixing with three million Palestinians”.
Among other Labour parliamentarians, she also met with LFI Lords chair Baroness Ramsay, LFI reported.
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said it showed Labour were “complicit” in Israel’s “war crimes”, as he urged them against these “friendly” meetings.
Harvie told The National: “At a time when whilst Israel is committing some of the most grievous war crimes in living memory, both in Gaza and the West Bank, it is completely wrong to meet with Israeli politicians in this way, and Labour has once again shown a complete lack of judgement by doing so.
“Every politician has a moral obligation to do everything possible to oppose the atrocities, but we’ve now seen time and again that Labour is not willing to do what is necessary.
This week, former chair of @HavodaParty, @MeravMichaeli, visited London. She met with Middle East Minister @HamishFalconer, @CommonsForeign chair @EmilyThornberry, and other @UKLabour parliamentarians. pic.twitter.com/h6m1AbEQn9
— Labour Friends of Israel (@_LFI) November 1, 2024
“The Labour UK government are no longer just supporting Israel’s genocide they are complicit in these war crimes, and it must end now.
“Instead of friendly meetings with Israeli politicians, I urge Labour to finally end arms sales, join the global call for peace and an end to the occupation, and immediately recognise the state of Palestine.”
LFI reported that in her discussions, Merav spoke about the need to free the 101 remaining Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza and suggested “supporting Israel’s security is distinct from supporting its current government”.
She also spoke about the importance “of international solidarity for Israel’s security and a better future for the wider region”.
In July 2023, LFI paid for four prospective Labour MPs to travel to Israel, one year before they were first elected to Parliament.
They were Stevenage’s MP Kevin Bonavia, High Peak’s Jon Pearce, Dover’s Mike Tapp, and Bournemouth West’s Jessica Toale.
The trip involved meeting with Michaeli as well as Israeli president Isaac Herzog.
In September 2023, LFI brought another six future Labour MPs to Israel including Dunfermline’s Graeme Downie.
A third LFI delegation was organised in March 2024, six months into Israel’s assault on Gaza.
It was attended by then Labour candidates Matthew Patrick and Mike Reader, who are now MPs for Wirral West and Northampton South.
