UK commerce consultant visits Israel after Britain suspends talks

A British commerce envoy has visited Israel to “promote commerce” between the 2 international locations – every week after the UK suspended talks.

Lord Ian Austin, who’s the UK authorities’s commerce envoy to Israel, was welcomed to Haifa on Monday, simply days after Overseas Secretary David Lammy paused negotiations.

The British Embassy in Israel stated Lord Austin had visited a variety of tasks – such because the Customs Scanning Centre, Haifa Bayport, and the Haifa-Nazareth Mild Rail challenge – to “witness co-operation at each cease”.

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“Commerce with Israel gives many hundreds of fine jobs within the UK and brings folks collectively within the nice multi-cultural democracy that’s Israel,” he stated.

Final Tuesday, the federal government confirmed it was suspending its commerce negotiations with Israel within the wake of an accelerated army offensive in Gaza and the nation’s choice to restrict the quantity of assist allowed into the Palestinian territory.

Mr Lammy instructed the Commons that Israel’s actions have been “egregious” and amounted to a “darkish new section on this battle”.

However regardless of the suspension of any new commerce talks with Israel, Quantity 10 has insisted that the UK nonetheless has a buying and selling relationship with the nation.

A spokesperson for the prime minister stated: “We have now at all times had a buying and selling relationship, however are pausing any new ones.”

The UK has sanctioned a variety of people and teams within the West Financial institution which it stated have been linked with acts of violence towards Palestinians – together with Daniella Weiss, a number one settler activist who was the topic of Louis Theroux’s current documentary The Settlers.

Israel criticised the UK authorities motion as “regrettable” and stated the free commerce settlement talks, which ministers have now backed out of, have been “not being superior in any respect by the UK authorities”.

Lord Austin has beforehand careworn the significance of the UK’s buying and selling relationship with Israel, claiming it’s “price billions and brings large advantages to Britain”.

Writing for Politics Home, he stated: “It’s in our nationwide curiosity, and the choice this week by the federal government to pause negotiations on a brand new Free Commerce Settlement doesn’t change that.

“The state of affairs in Gaza is horrible, as it’s in all wars, and the quickest approach to get the help in and save lives is for Hamas to cease combating and launch the hostages. That will finish the battle instantly.”