Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to visit London next Thursday, where he is expected to meet with UK ministers and senior political figures.
This visit comes just weeks before the UK is anticipated to recognize the state of Palestine at the UN General Assembly.
The meeting between Herzog and UK officials would be the first time a senior Israeli leader has been in Britain since Foreign Secretary David Lammy met his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar on an unannounced visit in the spring.
Herzog’s visit is likely to be highly controversial within the Labour Party, given the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the UK’s potential recognition of Palestine.
The Israeli president has previously clashed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over democratic and judicial changes, but has broadly supported the military campaign in Gaza.
However, Herzog’s statement in October 2023 asserting that all Palestinians in Gaza were “unequivocally” responsible for the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has drawn significant criticism.
Herzog stated, “The entire [Palestinian] nation out there that is responsible. It is not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved.”
This statement was later referenced by the International Court of Justice in its order on January 26, 2024, finding it “plausible” that Israel has committed acts that violate the Genocide Convention.
The court insisted that Israel must ensure its forces do not commit any prohibited acts and protect Gaza’s population from further risk of genocide. Herzog claimed his statement was misrepresented by the ICJ through selective quoting.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer last met Herzog more than a year ago in Paris, where he praised the “historic friendship between Israel and the United Kingdom” and reiterated the demand for the return of hostages and “support for Israel’s right to self-defence”.
However, Starmer and Lammy have since become more vocally critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza, which have resulted in over 65,000 deaths according to the territory’s health ministry.
The UK has imposed sanctions on two hardline Israeli cabinet ministers, and Starmer has announced plans to recognize the state of Palestine this September, alongside France.
Despite this, there remains considerable anger and concern within Labour and elsewhere that the UK has not done enough to halt the suffering of Palestinians.
While a meeting between Herzog and Starmer has not been confirmed, any such encounter would likely be contentious given the current tensions between the UK and Israel.
Starmer’s previous interactions with Herzog have shown a commitment to strong UK-Israeli relations, but also a desire to address concerns around Israel’s actions in Gaza.
In May 2023, Starmer met with Herzog in London, discussing Labour’s commitment to strong UK-Israeli relations and the need for both countries to work together on climate change and global security.
The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, recently announced plans to boycott a state dinner hosted by King Charles during US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK. Davey’s decision reflects growing frustration with the US’s lack of pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza.
As Herzog’s visit approaches, the UK government faces a delicate balancing act between maintaining its relationship with Israel and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The outcome of Herzog’s meetings with UK officials will be closely watched, given the significant implications for UK-Israel relations and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.