On Thursday evening, the Prime Minister will address a dinner to
mark the centenary of the Balfour Declaration.
In a speech, is expected to say: ‘We are
proud of our pioneering role in the creation of the State of
Israel.
‘We are proud to stand here today together with Prime Minister
Netanyahu and declare our support for Israel. And we are proud of
the relationship we have built with Israel.’
The Prime Minister will continue: ‘I believe it demands of us
today a renewed resolve to support a lasting peace that is in the
interests of both Israelis and Palestinians – and in the
interests of us all… A peace deal that must be based on a
two-state solution, with a secure and prosperous Israel alongside
a viable and sovereign Palestinian State.’
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The Prime Minister will go on to say that there can never be any
excuse for anti-Semitism in any form, just as there is no excuse
for hatred against Muslims, Christians, or anyone based on the
peaceful religions they choose to follow, the place of their
birth, or the colour of their skin.
She is expected to say: ‘And yes, this means recognising that
there is today a new and pernicious form of anti-Semitism which
uses criticism of the actions of the Israeli government as a
despicable justification for questioning the very right of Israel
to exist.
‘This is abhorrent and we will not stand for it.
‘That is why the United Kingdom has been at the forefront of an
international effort to create a new definition of anti-Semitism
which explicitly calls out this inexcusable attempt to justify
hatred.
‘Let me be clear.
‘Criticising the actions of Israel is never – and can never be –
an excuse for questioning Israel’s right to exist, any more than
criticising the actions of Britain could be an excuse for
questioning our right to exist.
‘And criticising the government of Israel is never – and can
never be – an excuse for hatred against the Jewish people – any
more than criticising the British government would be an excuse
for hatred against the British people.
‘Put simply, there can be no excuses for any kind of hatred
towards the Jewish people.
‘There never have been – and there never will be.’
