British diplomat James Cleverly arrives in Israel at a turbulent time marked by unrest by left-wing groups and increasing conflicts with Islamist actors.
Reception in Israel and objectives of the visit
He Israeli Foreign MinisterEli Cohen, welcomed Cleverly and emphasized the strengthening of bilateral relations between Israel and that Great Britain.
For its part, the British Foreign Office indicated that Cleverly intends to condemn the position of Iran to terrorist groups and promote the idea of ​​a Palestinian state that peacefully coexists with Israel.
Cleverly also showed a gesture of respect for the victims of the Holocaust by visiting Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, where he attended a memorial service.
Demonstrations and tensions in Israel
During the talks, scores of protesters gathered near Jerusalem’s Supreme Court and expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s proposals for judicial reforms.
The Supreme Court will hold a key session to consider legislation that could limit the court’s ability to oversee certain government decisions based on judges’ reasoning rather than state law.
Extension of the Abraham Accords and concerns about Iran
Discussions between Cleverly and Cohen also focused on expanding the Abraham Accordsto strengthen relations between Israel and other Middle Eastern countries.
The Iranian nuclear program and its support for groups like Hamas j Palestinian Islamic Jihad They were also on the agenda, emphasizing the need to end Iranian support to these actors.
The State Department emphasized shared concerns about the escalation of violence in Judea and Samaria, citing recent attacks and military operations.
Balance sheet of confrontations and losses
The conflict in Judea and Samaria escalated with attacks on civilians and Israeli forces, leading to constant retaliation by the army.
These attacks reportedly left 27 civilians and three soldiers dead and several injured. On the other hand, military operations led to the deaths of numerous Palestinian Islamists.
Publications such as The Associated Press and The Times of Israel have reported Palestinian terrorist casualty figures, with this year being one of the deadliest in decades.
Cleverly’s next meeting
Cleverly is expected to hold meetings with prominent figures such as Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority leader Mohammed Shtayyeh.
He will also participate in the Counterterrorism Policy Institute conference at Reichman University and present his perspective on Israel’s current challenges.
