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Employment Minister says freedom unites UK and Israel

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Employment Minister Priti Patel MP said yesterday that the common values of freedom make her proud to be a friend of Israel.

Speaking at a reception organised by the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) at the Houses of Parliament, Patel said, “I became a friend of Israel way before I became a Member of Parliament.” She explained that, “It’s not just about the freedom to do business between the United Kingdom and Israel, it’s not just about the freedom when it comes to our people-to-people ties, it’s not just about the freedom of exercising democracy in the Middle East. It’s actually about the freedom to stand up and speak, and stand up for what you believe in as well. And that is what unites us all today. Which is why I am proud to consider myself as a friend of Israel.”

Patel was joined by the Conservative Party’s Chief Whip Mark Harper MP, who reiterated the government’s determination to “deal with the threat of those wishing to boycott Israel.” He described those who wish to impose such measures as people who “aren’t confident that their arguments can be tested, and would rather boycott Israel and shy away from having a proper, democratic debate – the sort of very lively debate that takes place in Israel.”

The CFI reception was attended by around 300 people, including 60 parliamentarians. They included Minister for Housing and Planning, Brandon Lewis MP, former  Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kenneth Clark MP and former-Communities Minister Sir Eric Pickles MP, who told the audience, “It is immensely important that we speak up for the only working democracy in the Middle East. A bastion of democracy, a bastion of free speech, a bastion of civil liberties.”

Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Israel in London, Eitan Na’eh also spoke, saying, “To see this support, to see that there are people ready to stand on the right side of Israel, really is a great deal.”