Gulf News

Israeli wrongdoing­s know no bounds

The cancer of the Zionist state’s influence seems to have invaded the depths of the British government, according to a television network’s revelation­s

- Special to Gulf News

onsidering their nefarious activities worldwide, Israel is indeed a rogue nation that will not stop at anything, legal or otherwise, to pursue its self-interests — often at the expense of its friends. The Israelis display no morality in this pursuit and in their arsenal are murder, blackmail, torture and a host of other evils.

Recently, an investigat­ive unit of Al-Jazeera TV, one of the most popular news service in the region and one that has gained a considerab­le following around the world with its unbiased reporting on world events, released a film that showed how the Israeli government had ‘infiltrate­d’ the Conservati­ve and Labour parties in the United Kingdom and the extent of their influence via its embassy in the UK, using coffers of secret cash and covert support from some UK lawmakers.

Al-Jazeera’s undercover reporter Robin (an alias) infiltrate­d pro-Israeli groups with hidden cameras for the past six months, working “to counter the powerful and growing movement against the illegal occupation of Palestinia­n land”. He unearthed a close link between Shai Masot, a diplomat at the Israeli embassy in London, and a network of politician­s, activists and analysts in Britain who are sympatheti­c to Israel.

During the course of the investigat­ion, Robin posed as a graduate activist with strong sympathies towards Israel, who was more than keen to help the Israelis fight the rising Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israeli products because of Israel’s illegal land occupation and other brutal activities.

Masot told Robin that it was particular­ly important for him to build support for Israel among all levels of the Labour Party, which he said was being run by “crazy” leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn. With much disdain, Masot also described Boris Johnson, the British Foreign Secretary, as an “idiot”. “Sir Alan is more powerful because Johnson ‘is an idiot with no responsibi­lities.”

Video footage from the film shows how Masot made a forceful vow to “take down” Sir Alan Duncan, Johnson’s deputy. Sir Alan has been known to hold a very objective stance on the Israeli-Palestinia­n issue, much to Israeli concerns.

In the film, Maria Strizzolo, senior aide to Education Minister Robert Halfon, former political director of CFI, is seen as egging him on. Boasting about her role in making Robert Halfon a successful minister, Strizzolo is asked by Masot: “That’s obvious, but can you do the opposite stuff as well? Can I give you some names of MPs? Duncan is doing a lot of problems. Can I give you some names of MPs that I would suggest you take down?”

A former British minister claimed he had first-hand knowledge that groups like Conservati­ve Friends of Israel (CFI) and Labour Friends of Israel have for years “worked with the Israeli government” to thwart “the actions of ministers who try to defend Palestinia­n rights”. Naturally, Israeli friends in the UK government immediatel­y stepped in for damage control.

Johnson, defying growing calls from the opposition Labour Party and Scottish National Party for an immediate inquiry, said that he considered “the matter closed, after an apology by the Israeli ambassador”. He told the parliament that Masot, the Israeli embassy agent at the centre of the scandal, “no longer seems to be a functionar­y of the embassy in London”.

The director of CFI, Lord Stuart Polak, following the revelation­s on the Al-Jazeera, film said: “‘It is utter nonsense to assert that any UK political party is taken over by any organisati­on . ... The Israeli Embassy represents Israel in a profession­al manner.”

One also recalls British Prime Minister Theresa May’s recent attack on United States Secretary of State John Kerry’s claim that the current Israeli government is the “most Right-wing in its history”.

The cancer of Israeli influence seems to have infiltrate­d the depths of the British government.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Arab Emirates