Middle East Minister Lord Ahmad asserted that “Israel plays a very important role in the world” during a House of Lords Statement this week, which saw expressions of support for Israel as it marked the 75th anniversary of its independence.
Lord Ahmad declared that “we cannot support statements which do not recognise the existence of a particular community or people”. “Israel has been in existence for many decades. It is a reality on the map. You may not like it, but it is a reality, and those who do not like it need to live with it and recognise that Israel plays a very important role in the world”.
The Minister’s comments followed Lord Bellingham’s condemnation of “the appalling rhetoric from Iran that the state of Israel has no right to exist” which he described as “shocking and deeply unhelpful”.
The Middle East Minister also told the House that “Israel has… an absolute right to protect its citizens.”
CFI’s Honorary President, Lord Polak CBE, shared his experience being in Israel over Passover with his family during the terror attacks killing Lucy, Maia, and Rina Dee, and killing Italian lawyer in Tel Aviv: “The attack was horrific. In fact, the other attack—the ramming —happened outside our hotel on the Friday night, when sadly an Italian lawyer passed away from being hit by the car. It was actually frightening. I was with my grandkids; it was all a bit too close”.
CFI’s Parliamentary Chairman in the House of Lords, Rt. Hon. The Lord Pickles, paid tribute to Lord Ahmad remarking, “I have never been prouder of him than when I saw his visits to the Dee shiva… I thought that he showed immense humanity in his visits”. Lord Pickles also expressed concern about the Palestinian Authority’s “pay for slay” policy and “armed gangs” in Jenin and Nablus.
