BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday reiterated that Prime Minister David Cameron is a friend of Israel, but suggested that he may have forgotten some facts about Jerusalem in comments made to the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Cameron was asked at Prime Minister’s Questions by Bradford East Labour MP Imran Hussain, for his stance on Israeli settlements and, in particular, reports that Palestinians had been forced out of Jerusalem’s Old City. Cameron responded by firstly saying, “I am well known for being a strong friend of Israel.”

However, he continued by adding, “I have to say the first time I visited Jerusalem and had a proper tour around that wonderful city and saw what had happened with the effective encirclement of East Jerusalem, occupied East Jerusalem, it is genuinely shocking.” He also said that, “What this government has consistently done and gone on doing is saying yes, we are supporters of Israel, but we do not support illegal settlements.”

Netanyahu did not issue an official statement in response, but did comment on the matter at a Likud Party event in the southern city of Ofakim yesterday. He said, “My friend David Cameron, who is undoubtedly a friend of Israel, probably forgot some basic facts about Jerusalem.” He also explained that, “Only Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem guarantees the rule of law for everyone, something that doesn’t exist in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Libya or other wide parts of the Middle East, including the Palestinian Authority and also Gaza.” Netanyahu added that “only Israeli sovereignty prevents Islamic State and Hamas from setting aflame the holy places in the city, as they are doing across the Middle East.”

Meanwhile, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat also responded to Cameron’s comments, saying that they did not tally with “facts and the reality on the ground,” emphasising that the municipality invests in in schools, infrastructure and community centres in East Jerusalem. Barkat also invited Cameron to visit Jerusalem, “to work with us to advance the development of the city.”