The UK has announced it is summoning the Israeli ambassador in London and suspending its free trade agreement with ‘Israel’ in a landmark move that tears up friendly relations between the two countries.
Speaking in parliament on Tuesday afternoon, Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned “this Israeli government’s egregious actions and rhetoric”, adding that the government is “isolating ‘Israel’ from its friends and partners around the world”.
He criticized ‘Israel’ for expanding its military operations in Gaza and restricting the entry of humanitarian aid.
The foreign secretary said: “Today I am announcing we have suspended negotiations with this Israeli government on a new free trade agreement.
“We will be reviewing cooperation with them under the 2030 bilateral roadmap. The Netanyahu government’s actions have made this necessary.
“Today my honorable friend the foreign minister for the Middle East is summoning the Israeli ambassador to the Foreign Office to convey this message.”
Lammy also added that Palestinians must have their own state and live “free of occupation”.
Negotiations on a UK-Israel free trade agreement began in July 2022 under the previous Conservative government.
In the initial agreement, the UK government agreed to oppose the use of “apartheid” to describe Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and pledged to confront “anti-Israel bias” in international institutions, including at the United Nations’ Human Rights Council.
“The world is judging,” Lammy said. “History will judge them [the Israeli government]. Blocking aid, expanding the war, dismissing the concerns of your friends and partners. This is indefensible and it must stop.”
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