CFI Parliamentary Chairman Rt. Hon. Sir Eric Pickles MP celebrated Israel’s Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut) and emphasised the friendship between the UK and Israel, in an article published in the Jerusalem Post on Monday.
In the article, Sir Eric reflected that Yom Ha’atzmaut was a time to celebrate as well as “remind ourselves just how much the young Jewish state has achieved in its short life”.
Sir Eric said: “In my position as Parliamentary Chairman of Conservative Friends of Israel, I have had the pleasure of seeing the UK-Israel relationship going from strength to strength”.
Writing about the strength of support for Israel in the Conservative Party, Sir Eric said: “Israel has many great friends in the British government and Conservative Party. Each and every day friends of Israel here in the UK stand up in Parliament to have their voices heard and celebrate both Israel’s many achievements and strong bilateral relationship with the UK, as well as challenging those that seek to delegitimise the only democracy in the Middle East”.
He asserted: “The UK has been a friend of Israel in both good and bad times. From supporting Israel’s right to self-defence against the brutal terrorist groups along its borders and the UK’s recent unprecedented condemnation for the UNHRC’s ‘obsession’ with Israel through to its strong opposition to the so-called BDS movement and facilitating record bilateral trade totalling an annual £6 billion, the UK has stood beside Israel”.
He expressed that the UK will be marking the centenary of the Balfour Declaration, underlining that Prime Minister Theresa May “said that the UK will be marking the anniversary with pride”.
Sir Eric said: “I look forward to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visiting London for the events later this year. I can’t think of a more poignant way of marking the occasion than the democratically elected Prime Minister of the Jewish state visiting the UK”.
Sir Eric emphasised his belief that the best years are ahead for Israel, writing: “At the age of 69, rather than settling into its dotage, Israel is moving forward into the future with vigor. Its best years are ahead”.
Click here to read Sir Eric’s article in full.
