BICOM

The Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson arrived in Israel last night at the start of an extensive visit that will include meetings with President Rivlin and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Mr Johnson will also hold talks with Opposition leader Isaac Herzog.

The Foreign Secretary met Prime Minister Netanyahu on February 6th when the Israeli Prime Minister was in London to meet Prime Minister Theresa May for the first time.

Mr Johnson is expected travel to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian leaders and is also scheduled for a briefing about settlement expansion with the Israeli campaign group and NGO ‘Peace Now’. The Jerusalem Post reported that West Bank community leaders have asked to meet the Foreign Secretary to get their perspective. Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan has invited Johnson to visit his region of the West Bank “to see the reality with his own eyes”.

The Foreign Secretary visited Israel in September to attend the funeral of former-President Shimon Peres, and as Mayor of London, he led a business delegation to Israel in November 2015. Johnson colourfully described those who support a boycott of Israel  as “corduroy-jacketed, snaggle-toothed, lefty academics” adding “I cannot think of anything more foolish.” He described Israel as a “country that when all is said and done is the only democracy in the region, the only place that has in my view a pluralistic open society”.

In Foreign Office Questions last week in Parliament the Foreign Secretary was asked about rocket fire into Israel from Gaza, he said: “Nobody should underestimate the very real security threat facing Israel,” and reiterated that the UK Government is “firmly on the side of the Israelis as they face that threat”.