U.K.’s Starmer, Israel’s Herzog clash in ‘tough’ No. 10 meeting amid Labour protests

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he had argued with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Wednesday during a “tough” meeting that covered deep disagreements over recent behaviour by each other’s countries.

Starmer hosted Herzog amid protests and condemnations from within his own Labour Party.

The meeting comes a day after Israel expanded its attacks on Hamas by launching an airstrike aimed at killing the Islamist group’s political leaders in Qatar, a British ally in the Middle East, which Starmer condemned.

Following the meeting, Herzog stated that the two discussed British recognition of a Palestinian state, saying, “I made clear that the United Kingdom’s stated intention to recognise a Palestinian state at this time would in no way help bring the hostages home, help the Palestinians, or help bring an end to the conflict.”

“Things were said that were tough and strong, and clearly, we can argue, because when allies meet, they can argue. We are both democracies,” Herzog said at a later Chatham House event.

Related Articles

Close

The Israeli president also said he “voiced strong opposition to any notion of sanctions against the only democracy in the region, and I warned against the dangerous echoing of Hamas’s propaganda campaign of starvation in Gaza.”

Starmer’s office said the British leader implored Herzog to change course over Gaza, expressing deep concern about the humanitarian crisis and urging Israel to allow in aid and halt offensive operations.

He reaffirmed that the U.K. and Israel were longstanding allies and said he remains committed to working towards an enduring peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.

During a Parliament session before the meeting, Starmer said that he would be clear in his meeting with Herzog: “We condemn Israel’s actions, restrictions on aid must be lifted, Israel’s offensive in Gaza must stop, and settlement building must cease.”

During the Parliament session, SNP MP Stephen Flynn raised his voice at Starmer, saying Herzog will “ignore every word you say,” as Labour MPs rallied outside Parliament, labeling the visit a “disgrace.”

MP Richard Burgon of Labour said, “Our government should hit Israel with the toughest sanctions imaginable to help end the genocide in Gaza.”

Close

On Tuesday, 61 MPs, including members of Starmer’s party, warned that it was “troubling” that the government is welcoming Herzog to the U.K., citing International Court of Justice references showing Herzog’s alleged endorsement of collective punishment in Gaza, along with images of the president signing IDF shells deployed in Gaza. They said Herzog’s visit is “not compatible with our obligations under the Genocide Convention.”

Downing Street underlined Starmer’s “revulsion” at the suffering in Gaza but did not repeat Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s calls for Herzog to answer for alleged war crimes and ethnic cleansing committed by his country.

Asked on Wednesday why he was meeting Herzog, Starmer said: “I will not give up on diplomacy, that is the politics of students.”

On Tuesday evening, hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters gathered on Whitehall opposite Downing Street ahead of Herzog’s visit to the U.K. One protester held a sign reading, “Isaac Herzog, genocide defender, not welcome here!”

Protesters, many waving Palestinian flags, chanted: “Say it loud, say it clear, Isaac is not welcome here,” and “Keir Starmer, shame on you; David Lammy, shame on you.”