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Analysis

Jewish News: Cameron calmed the Knesset, by Dr Toby Greene

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When David Cameron agreed to address the Knesset, he did not expect to do so in a week when the chamber was raging with internal recriminations, due to opposition anger at the handling of major legislation. With Benjamin Netanyahu’s heckled repeatedly during his welcome, and opposition leader Isaac Herzog on the attack, Mr. Cameron looked understandably awkward; like a train passenger watching the couple opposite have a full blown row.

When he rose, however, he was welcomed with an ovation, and took the opportunity to positively compare the values of democracy Britain and Israel share.

That set the tone for a speech designed to burnish UK credentials as a friend who understands the Jewish narrative, backs Israel’s legitimacy and security, and wants the best its future. It was speech also with a British Jewish audience in mind, with Cameron speaking about Holocaust education, protecting Shechita, and even his own distant Jewish ancestry.

Read the analysis in full at The Jewish News (p. 2)