The Foreign Secretary today (29 Nov) hosted her Israeli counterpart to sign a
new Memorandum of Understanding and for wider discussions in
London.
The Foreign Secretary welcomed Foreign Minister Lapid to the UK
and wished him and all Jewish people in Israel and around the
world a Happy Chanukah.
They discussed how the UK and Israel are close allies and,
through the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding, our two
democracies will transform our relationship into an even closer
partnership by formally agreeing a new strategic plan for the
next decade spanning cyber, tech, trade and defence.
The Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Lapid also looked
ahead to the start of consultations on a new, enhanced UK-Israel
trade deal next year.
The two noted that the MOU will see the UK and Israel forge a
closer alliance on cyber and tech, and will help to ensure that
future standards on new technology are shaped by democratic
nations.
They discussed a shared desire to work more closely together on
honest and reliable investments into low and middle income
countries.
They also discussed the Middle East Peace Process, including how
to improve the situation in Gaza. Foreign Minister Lapid thanked
the Foreign Secretary for the UK’s recent decision to proscribe
Hamas in its entirety.
On Iran, the Foreign Secretary updated on the UK’s efforts to
restore the JCPoA through talks that have restarted today (Nov
29) in Vienna, Austria.
