Burnham’s Israel sanctions plan could risk national security, senior Tory warns
Andy Burnham’s plans to sanction Israel over illegal settlements in the West Bank could risk Britain’s national security and make it harder to fight terrorism, a senior Conservative has warned.
Shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat made the warning as he spoke to the Telegraph, in his first major interview since he was appointed to the role by party leader Kemi Badenoch in a reshuffle.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband this week said the UK would “reset” its policy on Israel, as his ministers suggested goods coming out of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory, could be subject to sanctions.
Mr Tugendhat told The Telegraph: “It’s worth remembering that Israel is one of our most important intelligence partners, and has been for many, many years.
“I can tell you, as security minister, a lot of incidents did not happen because of co-operation with intelligence sources in Israel, who helped us to protect British people from terror attacks.
“Now, the first job of the British Government is the protection of the British people, and one of the things I am absolutely clear on, is that leading Britain’s foreign policy is about protecting our people first.”
Tensions in the West Bank have flared in recent months, with Israeli settlers involved in violent disputes with Palestinians.
Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law and Israeli law.
Prime Minister Mr Burnham suggested he was changing the Government’s approach to the conflict soon after coming to office.
Labour lost the support of many of its left-wing backers under Sir Keir Starmer, over his initial response to the conflict between Israeli forces and the militant group Hamas in Gaza.
Mr Tugendhat also suggested Argentina should be blocked from a major trade agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), because of its president’s recent calls for Britain to hand over the Falkland islands.
He said: “If (Javier) Milei wants to end his economic crisis, he needs Britain to let him in. I would veto any application from states that threaten the peace of the South Atlantic. We will not be bullied.
“Britain cannot accept those who threaten us as trade allies. Milei’s political distractions are costing his people. Britain can be friends with Argentina again, but not if we’re being threatened.”
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Argentina’s president is a loon but he’s not overseeing the systemic torture and murder of unarmed Palestinian civilians and aid workers. Comparing apples to oranges is embarrassing stuff.
He’s correct. The Mossad is the world’s most effective security service. Along with the US, it provides the UK with key intelligence about the myriad of Islamist plots we face. International diplomacy is a delicate balancing act and Milliband is coming perilously close to putting us at risk of another 7/7, Manchester etc. We may not like it but Mossad’s intelligence is very important.
Right now, the main instigator of terrorism in the world are the zionists.
They have attacked several of their neighbours and a sovereign country further away and threatened to attack other countries as well as well as their denial of the genocidal murder of several thousands of semitic Palestinian people and their culpability in removing semitic Palestinians from their homes in west bank.
any offer of information from mossed is lacking into trustable intelligence.
The whole of zion needs to be ostracised by the UK for the genocidal evils of the zionist regime and its IDF goons and marauding settlers.
There is no goodness in dealing with such a racist genocidal zionist regime and the whole of Bani Israel should hang their heads in shame for what they have become.
Their pursuit of the holy land has only pushed them into darkness.
Poppycock. Israeli intelligence is vital to our national security. Their understanding of the various jihadist networks plotting against us is unrivalled.
I can sort of understand the US Republicans being in hock to Israel – but why the Conservative & Unionists are on the same kick is beyond me. Have they no standards?
“Have they no standards?”
I think you’ll find the answer to that question is a resounding “No”.
I wouldnt worry too much about it Tom Tugendhat; UK is just like USA – totally controlled by a foreign power.
What this chinless wonder fails to realise is that Burnham, as a member of Labour Friends of Israel, will talk a good fight and then go on to do nothing of any consequence.