British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak met with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel in London on Friday, March 24, 2023.
Netanyahu had to pass by hundreds of protesters waving Israeli flags and waving signs calling for the defense of Israeli democracy as he arrived at 10 Downing St. for talks that focused on the war in Ukraine and concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.
There were shouts of “shame” and “traitor”, as Netanyahu made the short walk from his convoy to the steps of Number 10. A planned photo opportunity for media at the start of the talks was cancelled.
One placard read, “We are Israelis and Jews living in the U.K. demonstrating against Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is leading a judicial coup turning Israel into a dictatorship.”
Some women protesting outside Downing Street wore red robes and white caps inspired by “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a novel and TV series set in a dystopian future. Similarly clad demonstrators have become fixtures of the mass protests in Israel.
As part of their discussions, Sunak raised Netanyahu’s controversial judicial reforms, which have sparked mass protests in Israel and beyond.
Sunak “stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel,” the British leader’s office said in an official readout of the meeting.
Netanyahu’s judicial reform or overhaul would give his government more control over judicial appointments, weaken the Supreme Court by limiting judicial review of legislation and allow Parliament to overturn court decisions with a simple majority vote.
As thousands of people took to the streets across Israel on Thursday, March 23, 2023, Netanyahu defiantly pledged to proceed with the judicial overhaul, hours after his coalition passed a law making it harder to remove him from office.
The planned judicial system overhaul has ignited the biggest protests in Israel’s history amid rare dissent from people throughout Israeli society, including military reservists, navy veterans, high-tech businesspeople and former officials. Netanyahu pushed back his departure to Britain until 4 a.m. on Friday to deal with the political crisis.
Netanyahu’s right-wing government has also been criticized for its hard-line policy toward Palestinians, including recent comments by a government Minister who denied the existence of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.
Sunak and Netanyahu also discussed the war in Ukraine and Iran’s “destabilizing activity”, as well as its nuclear programme. The leaders welcomed an agreement signed this week aimed at deepening technical, trade and security ties between the UK and Israel.
Sunak Reiterates Britain’s Support For Two-State Solution
According to Spokesman Jamie Davies, Sunak “reiterated our support for two-state solution,” and Britain’s view that Israel’s West Bank settlements are illegal and “contrary to the cause of peace.”
“Israel is a vital international partner for the United Kingdom, and the Prime Minister was visiting London, and this was an important opportunity to talk about issues that matter to both countries, whether that’s the threat of Iran, Russia, new trade and investment … as well as peace and stability in the Middle East.”
Jamie Davies
Netanyahu’s office disclosed that the two leaders discussed the rapidly advancing nuclear program of Israel’s archenemy, Iran, as well as “deepening strategic cooperation in security, intelligence and economic fields.”
Rights groups and Palestinians say Israel’s democratic ideals have long been tarnished by the country’s 55-year, open-ended occupation of lands the Palestinians seek for an independent state and the treatment of Palestinian Israeli citizens, who face discrimination in many spheres.
Netanyahu will also meet Home Secretary, Suella Braverman on his one-day visit.
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