MINISTER RESIGNS OVER MEETINGS WITH ISRAELIS
LONDON In a new blow to Britain’s beleaguered government, the U.K. international development secretary quit Wednesday over unauthorized meetings with Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Priti Patel resigned after being ordered back from a trip to East Africa and summoned to 10 Downing St. by Prime Minister Theresa May. If she had not quit, she would almost certainly have been fired.
Patel is the second cabinet departure in a week for a government facing crisis on several fronts, includi ng divisions over Brexit and growing allegations of sexual misbehaviour in politics.
Patel has been under pressure since it was revealed last week that she held 12 meetings with Israeli groups and officials, including Netanyahu, during a vacation in Israel in August — and that she hadn’t told May or colleagues about it.
Patel apologized, but when details of two further meetings emerged, May acted.
In her resignation letter, Patel said her conduct “fell below the high standards that are expected of a secretary of state.”