Prime Minister heralded the “incredibly
important” UK-Israel partnership and revealed his plans to visit
the Jewish State next year to celebrate its 75th anniversary, at
CFI’s Annual Business Lunch on Monday. The event was attended by
700 guests, including 225 Conservative Parliamentarians, 10
Cabinet members and three former Prime Ministers.
Addressing the growing reach of Iran’s terror network, the Prime
Minister vowed to “utilise the full range of tools” at his
disposal to “protect UK citizens from the threat of the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps”.
Mr Sunak spoke of his commitment to “end bias against Israel in
international fora”, and confirmed that the UK would “join our
closest allies in voting against” the “divisive” upcoming vote at
the United Nations General Assembly relating to the ICJ. The
Prime Ministers’ full address can be viewed here.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog sent a special video message thanking Prime
Minister Sunak, the Conservative Party and CFI for their support
and efforts to develop a stronger relationship between the
countries.
The event was also addressed by Foreign Secretary , Ambassador of Israel H.E.
Tzipi Hotovely, CFI Parliamentary Chairmen Rt. Hon. and Rt. Hon. The , CFI Honorary President CBE, CFI Chair Hilda Worth, and
CFI Vice Chair Jeremey Brier KC.
In his address, the Foreign Secretary said that he “cannot wait”
for the UK to secure a free trade deal with Israel. Praising the
“forward thinking and positive ideas bubbling from Israel” in
areas such as environmental and health tech, the Foreign
Secretary said “it is in the global interest that we work with
Israel”.
Prime Minister on Iran
The Prime Minister addressed Iran’s malign global activities
which “aren’t just confined to the Middle East”. He cited that
the “National Cyber Security Centre has exposed IRGC-linked
attacks on critical national infrastructure” and that “the head
of MI5 has spoken of at least ten threats this year to kidnap or
even kill UK-based individuals”.
The Prime Minister referenced the “important actions” of his
predecessors in proscribing Hamas and Hezbollah and said that he
was committed, alongside the Home Secretary, to “utilising the
full range of tools at our disposal to protect UK citizens from
the threat of the IRGC and Iran”.
Turing to Iran’s continued nuclear escalation he stated: “Under
my leadership, the UK will not waver in our commitment to work
with Israel and our allies to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear
weapon”.
Prime Minister on the Abraham Accords
The Prime Minister praised the Abraham Accords and said they have
“shown that a different future is possible.
“I passionately believe that we must continue to leverage our
strong ties with other Gulf States to expand the number of
signatories and enhance the blossoming opportunities”, he
said.
Mr Sunk called the increasing normalisation in the region a
“valuable route to peace” and he hopes the Government can build
upon this by exploring joining the International Fund for
Israeli-Palestinian Peace.
Prime Minister on Peace and Security
The Prime Minister gave his “total commitment” that he will
“fight very hard for the security of the Jewish State” and
“oppose any actions which stand to harm the peace process and the
two-state solution – which we all hope and pray for”.
He added that he would continue to “honour” his predecessors’
“principled commitment to ending the bias against Israel in
international fora” and committed that the UK will vote against
the upcoming vote at the UN General Assembly relating to the
ICJ.
Prime Minister on UK-Israel Opportunities and
BDS
Mr Sunak said he was “committed to securing an ambitious Free
Trade Agreement with Israel”.
The Prime Minister applauded Israel’s “remarkable achievements in
technology”, which he said were opposed by the “pernicious” BDS
movement. Asserting that BDS was “self-defeating, divisive, and
frankly, it harms the cause of peace”, the Prime Minister
reiterated his commitment to “deliver on the Conservative Party’s
2019 Manifesto commitment to legislate against BDS”.
