Israel’s best friend?
Jerusalem delighted at re-election of PM who ‘understands’
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS in Jerusalem have spoken of their joy and relief at the re-election of David Cameron.
“Cameron has been a fantastic supporter of Israel and the ties between the two governments, which were already close under Blair and Brown, have only improved under him,” said one.
Officials in both the British and Israeli governments also attested to the close personal relationship between Mr Cameron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Cameron is much closer to Netanyahu’s thinking than people realise,” said one senior diplomat.
“On many issues, including the threats faced by both Israel and the West from radical Islam, they see eye-to-eye.”
By contrast, a very senior Israeli Labour source said: “Ed Miliband is not anti-Israel but he doesn’t understand the situation in the Middle East and his statements during the fighting in Gaza last summer showed that.
“From Israel’s point of view, Cameron is certainly better because he understands much better the challenges Israel is facing.”
However, another diplomat expressed the view that Mr Cameron was much closer to his Israeli counterpart than the
Foreign Office would like.
Hours before the outcome of the election was revealed, Mr Netanyahu to Mr Cameron: “impressive victory & renewed mandate. I look forward to working with you on shared goals of peace & prosperity”.
Mr Netanyahu was one of the first international leaders to call Downing Street and congratulate Mr Cameron.
These were not just diplomatic formalities — the Israeli government was hugely relieved by the Conservatives’ re-election, and even more so at their remaining in power without their Liberal-Democrat coalition partners.
On a personal level, Mr Netanyahu regards his British counterpart as a “true friend”. Mr Netanyahu sees him as a member of a tiny group of world leaders, which include the prime ministers of Canada and India, who are instinctively pro-Israel, unlike the leaders of the US, France and Germany.
However, Israelis have noted that over the next two years Mr Cameron will have to focus on renegotiating Britain’s membership of the EU. This is likely to prevent him from energetically fighting Israel’s corner over possible sanctions and Iran.