Imran Mulla
Middle East Eye / August 17, 2024
Netanyahu denied the British foreign secretary’s requests for a meeting, according to Israeli media reports.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to meet British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Friday during his trip to Israel, according to Israeli media reports.
The British government made multiple requests for a sit-down meeting with Netanyahu, Israel’s Channel 13 News and The Times of Israel reported.
But the government was told Netanyahu had a scheduling conflict.
According to Channel 13 News, citing Israeli sources, the Israeli prime minister was angered by the new Labour government’s recent decision to withdraw British objections to the International Criminal Court deciding on issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
A Foreign Office source told Middle East Eye there had been no plans for David Lammy to meet Netanyahu.
Lammy visited Israel on a joint trip with his French counterpart Stephane Sejourne. They met Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.
Lammy called for a ceasefire and warned of a “dangerous moment” for the region.
Imran Mulla is a journalist at Middle East Eye
