Netanyahu meets May as UK eyes bolstered Israel ties post-Brexit

[mike2000 is back]

Netanyahu meets May as UK eyes bolstered Israel ties post-Brexit
By HERB KEINON
Mon, 06 Feb 2017, 12:35 PM

The two world leaders met in London on Monday afternoon; topics discussed include Iran, the peace process, and trade relations between Israel and the UK.

British Prime Minister Theresa May greeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at No. 10 Downing on Monday afternoon, saying she was happy to welcome him as both countries commemorate 100 years since the 1917 Balfour Declaration.

Large pro-Israel demonstrations and some anti-Israeli demonstration greeted Netanyahu there as well.

May, in brief remarks, said that Britain remains committed to a two-state solution.

Labour party head Jeremy Corbyn, who did not seek a meeting with Netanyahu during his 24-hour visit to London, has urged May to say that Britain stands “unequivocally behind the rights of the Palestinian people, along with the many who support them in Israel.”

May made clear in her comments that the two countries have many areas of cooperation. She also said she will discuss the situation in Syria and Iran with Netanyahu.

Netanyahu, who said before leaving Israel that standing up to increasing Iranian aggression in the region would be one of the main topics of discussion in London, praised US President Donald Trump for reinstating some sanctions on Iran, and said he expected other countries to do the same. He said Iran publicly threatens to destroy Israel, and is engaged in one provocation after another. The prime minister stressed that Israel has not given up on its yearning for peace, and will discuss that as well with May, saying that along with the current challenges in the region, there are also opportunities.

Mrs May's spokeswoman said the prime minister was reiterating "our long-standing position to make clear that we see the continued increase in settlement activity undermining trust".

The UK would continue to push for "a twin-track approach" to the Middle East peace process which also recognised Israel's right to be safe from terrorism, she added.

But beyond political events, there is room for stronger ties, not least in the economic area where Israel's championing of high-tech industry is seen as a positive model to emulate.

Netanyahu told May that he has two portraits in his office, one of Theodor Herzl, and the second of Winston Churchill. Those two leaders, he said, embody the common values that make possible great trade, technology and security cooperation between the two countries.

Trade is expected to loom large in the talks, with Britain keen on developing strong partnerships in the post-Brexit era.

http://m.jpost.com/Israel-News/Poli...more-important-for-Britain-post-Brexit-480722

Good to see two great and forward looking countries increasing their relations to new heights. Hope to see more Israelis companies setting up shop in Britain and vice versa. Win-Win .
@Natan ,@c-dome1 ,@David7 ,@500, @Ilay

 

[Mo12]

Welcome to my country

 

[Solomon2]

Netanyahu told May that he has two portraits in his office, one of Theodor Herzl, and the second of Winston Churchill. Those two leaders, he said, embody the common values that make possible great trade, technology and security cooperation between the two countries.

The point being, I suppose, that a move away from Churchill's values damages shared prosperity and both nations' security.

However, I'm a Zionist and while I respect Churchill I don't know if I'd hang up his portrait on my wall. All that starvation in India and tricking the Vlasovites back into Stalin's hands and his deadly misjudgments.....maybe if I was Netanyahu I would, since looking at that picture would remind me of the conflicts even great statesmen must face?

 

[mike2000 is back]

The point being, I suppose, that a move away from Churchill's values damages shared prosperity and both nations' security.

However, I'm a Zionist and while I respect Churchill I don't know if I'd hang up his portrait on my wall. All that starvation in India and tricking the Vlasovites back into Stalin's hands and his deadly misjudgments.....maybe if I was Netanyahu I would, since looking at that picture would remind me of the conflicts even great statesmen must face?

You are a champion of Human rights I guess..

 

[Crixus]

Your PM is really working hard to reduce the effects of Brexit on common Brits ..... She is meeting a lot of national leaders these days

You are a champion of Human rights I guess..

 

[mike2000 is back]

Your PM is really working hard to reduce the effects of Brexit on common Brits ..... She is meeting a lot of national leaders these days

Yeah, Britain has always been a pragmatic rational outward looking global player. Guess it will be even more so post Brexit. . Israël IS just one part(albeit an important one in middle East and technologically)of a much larger Brexit puzzle.

Lee Harpin

January 25, 2017

Trade with Israel 'absolutely fundamental' to Brexit, says Cabinet Minister
UK trading relationship with Israel can go from 'strength to strength' following Brexit, Priti Patel tells CFI reception

Priti Patel (left) at the CFI reception. Photo: Twitter

Trade with Israel is “absolutely fundamental” to the UK as the nation embarks on Brexit, according to the Secretary for International Development.

Priti Patel told a Conservative Friends of Israel reception that Brexit presented a golden opportunity to boost trade between the two countries, insisting: “There is a lot more we can do.”

In an unashamedly pro-Brexit message, Ms Patel, herself a former vice-chairman of CFI, said:” As Britain embarks on our new chapter when it comes to leaving the EU, being in control of our laws, and our decision making, having great allies like Israel is absolutely fundamental.

“When it comes to great friendships and when it comes to looking at the great trading relationship we already have - that trading relationship can only go from strength to strength.

“When you think about the financial footprints of our country, financial trade alone is worth over £5.1billion($7.6_billion) as of 2015 between our two great countries - and has doubled over the past decade.”
UK-Israeli trade is at an all-time high, despite recent rumblings by the EU over the labelling of products from the West Bank and calls in some quarters for a boycott of Israeli goods.

Trade boost: The UK is Israel’s second largest trading partner after the US

British giants HSBC, Barclays, Rolls-Royce, GlaxoSmithKline and Unilever have a major presence in the Israeli market, while one out of every seven prescriptions filled by the NHS is from an Israeli pharmaceutical firm.

There are a raft of government initiatives to propagate growth spearheaded by a recent trip by British businesses in Israel and vice versa, as well as favourable tax treaties.

Britain’s trade with Israel reached a record high of £5.1billion last year after doubling during the last decade. The UK is Israel’s second largest trading partner after the US.

“Don’t tell me there isn’t more we can do, there’s a lot more we can do. We can do that because of the amazing relationship of our two countries.”

Ms Patel made her optimistic speech at the reception at the Palace of Westminster only hours after the Supreme Court had ruled that MPs could vote on the triggering of Article 50 which will start the Brexit process.

Her comments on Israel echoed remarks made by the Prime Minister Theresa May at a CFI lunch in London last December.

Then the PM praised the economic ties between the countries, urging greater cooperation on healthcare, cyber security , defence , intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism efforts.

Speaking on Tuesday night Ms Patel also stressed her department’s role in freezing millions in aid payments to the Palestinian Authority which were ending up in the pocket of the country's officials and financing terrorist activities.

Ms Patel said “My department has an important role to play when it comes to Israel — and it will play its part by investing in the right things, for the right people — but also in initiatives which can bring people together. These will include co-existence programmes. But I am also rooting out abuse in the system to ensure that that money is spent in the right way. I will be assiduous in ensuring that we follow the money to our transparency – and follow the outcome as well, because that is what we should be doing with British taxpayers’ money.”

Mark Regev, the Israeli ambassador to the UK, paid tribute to Ms Patel’s attempts to stop money from British taxes funding terror groups in Gaza strip and West Bank.

Mr Regev told the packed reception: ”A lot of money has been claimed as going to help needy people — and money hasn’t necessarily always gone to needy people. On the contrary: we’ve had in the past examples of money that’s supposed to go to needy people that’s ended up going to other things, whether to support a maximalist extreme political agenda, to support hate speech or terrorism. I want to commend the Secretary of State, who under her watch has instituted new guidelines which will ensure that money which is supposed to help needy people really reaches needy people”.

Asked about the Israeli Embassy’s response to the recent Al Jazeera documentary, The Lobby, in which a junior aide was filmed by an undercover reporter, Mr Regev told the JC: ”Steps have been taken.


https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/israel-brexit-1.431266

 

[KediKesenFare3]

@mike2000 is back

Which countries are the largest trading partners of UK?

 

[Nirmil]

This is terrible news. Britain should never make deals with the racist white supremacist state of Israel.

 

[Nirmil]

The point being, I suppose, that a move away from Churchill's values damages shared prosperity and both nations' security.

However, I'm a Zionist and while I respect Churchill I don't know if I'd hang up his portrait on my wall. All that starvation in India and tricking the Vlasovites back into Stalin's hands and his deadly misjudgments.....maybe if I was Netanyahu I would, since looking at that picture would remind me of the conflicts even great statesmen must face?

You're an odd Zionist. Churchill is darling of most Zionists. They adore him, even idolize him. But for me Churchill is scum of earth.

 

[mike2000 is back]

This is terrible news. Britain should never make deals with the racist white supremacist state of Israel.

LOL Some people also say we shouldn't have relations with countries where Islamic terrorists/extremists are present. In which case using these people (and your) logic we wouldn't have any relations with Pakistan, Libya, Iraq, etc etc . LOL

In short, we will follow our national interests(just like any sane power does) irregardless. Period.

@mike2000 is back

Which countries are the largest trading partners of UK?

Our old and most reliable ally the U.S is our largest export market, while we import more from Germany than we do from other country in the world(hence they will suffer the most if there is not a viable/sensible Brexit deal between E.U and Britain, even though it will affect us as well).

 

[Tshering22]

You're an odd Zionist. Churchill is darling of most Zionists. They adore him, even idolize him. But for me Churchill is scum of earth.

Just like Hitler was a European/Middle Eastern hated figure, Churchill is the villain of the Subcontinent.

Most people outside our region don't even know what he did before independence.

 

[Nirmil]

Churchill statue israel