LONDON: The UK Foreign Office recommended that David Lammy, the country’s foreign secretary at the time, endorse a trade mission to Israel in late May despite his earlier criticism of Tel Aviv’s conduct in Gaza.
Lammy had also suspended trade talks with Israel, yet Foreign Office staffers insisted that ministers should support the visit by Ian Austin, a pro-Israel peer, The Guardian reported.
Austin’s trip went ahead despite lacking support from ministers or advisers as a result of bureaucratic dysfunction. Officials had earlier requested ministerial advice over the visit.
The Foreign Office said that Austin would not meet any Israeli government representatives while in the country, yet images show the peer meeting top trade officials on two occasions.
At a reception at the British Embassy attended by Austin, Israeli Minister Yoav Kisch also delivered a speech.
Lammy had suspended talks with Israel on a free trade agreement on May 20.
Despite this, a Foreign Office staffer, in a submission on the visit, said: “(British Embassy) Tel Aviv report that the business community in Israel are agitated by yesterday’s announcement. If we were to turn off this visit now, cancelling several visits and meetings, it would send a bad signal.”
Through the visit, Austin would be able “to explain to Israeli civil society and business … that nothing has changed in our existing trading relationship,” the briefing said, adding: “We recommend the visit goes ahead. Do you agree?”
A source told The Guardian that Lammy did not receive the submission.
On the Israel visit, Austin met officials from Rafael, the arms company that develops parts of the Iron Dome system and Spike missiles, which have been used in drone strikes that killed British aid workers in Gaza.
The British Embassy publicized details of Austin’s visit at the time.
It led to criticism of inconsistencies in foreign policy as it followed Lammy’s sharp rebuke of the Israeli government days earlier.
The apparent discrepancy will raise questions about the UK government’s relationship with Israel and its defense industry.
