Priti: I’m unflinching in my support for Israel
PRITI PATEL has spoken of her “unflinching and unequivocal” support for Israel and condemned the BDS movement as “racist”.
Speaking at a Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) event attended by Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, on Monday, the Home Secretary said she is “quite unapologetic” about the proscription of the Hamas terror group last year, adding it was “not just the right thing to do, [it was] a moral imperative”.
Ms Patel thanked Ms Hotovely for “who you are and what you do” and for the “wider support” Israel gives the UK.
Speaking of the “shared values” between the UK and Israel, the Minister said that “everything we have seen around the BDS movement is racist”.
She said that the UK and Israel have an “unwavering belief in freedom, democracy and security”, adding that they are “united in speaking out and standing up against racism and antisemitism”.
The Home Secretary expressed her concern that antisemitism has “infiltrated our politics, our political dialogue and discourse”, adding: “It is utterly appalling that antisemitism has been on the increase.”
Last month, Tel Aviv University found that antisemitism was on the rise around the world in 2021, with the UK experiencing a significant rise compared to both 2020 and 2019.
Ms Patel also expressed her “sympathies and condolences” to the families of the 19 Israelis murdered in the latest wave of terror attacks.
Ms Hotovely praised the Home Secretary for her work on “combating terrorism, fighting all types of extremism and fighting antisemitism”.
The ambassador also thanked CFI for its work strengthening the UK-Israel bilateral relationship.