Sunak easily defies Netanyahu as protesters accuse Israeli PM of ‘destroying democracy’

Rishi Sunak challenged Benjamin Netanyahu on his controversial judicial reform, but spoke of strengthening ties as Israel’s prime minister faces a wave of protests.

Cries of “shame” followed Mr Netanyahu Downing Streetwhere hundreds of pro-democracy protesters gathered to warn against a slide into autocracy.

Mass The protests were sparked in Israel by legislation that protects Mr. Netanyahu from being declared unfit to rule, which critics say will protect him from a corruption trial.

Downing Street said the leaders’ 45-minute meeting focused on “strengthening the close partnership” between the two countries and their support for a free trade deal.

“Common security and defense challenges,” such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the threat from Iran, were central to the discussion.

But Mr. Sunak did devote a smaller portion of the meeting to raising difficult topics, including “international concern over rising tensions in the West Bank and the risk of undermining efforts toward a two-state solution” for Israel.Palestinian conflict.

“The prime minister stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values ​​that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel,” the No. 10 statement said, hinting at a delicate challenge to his policies.

Mr Sunak said he was looking forward to visiting Israel at the “first opportunity” after receiving an invitation from Mr Netanyahu.

Asked whether Mr Sunak was concerned about building closer ties in the current situation, Downing Street stressed that Israel was a “vitally important international partner”.

The chair of the foreign affairs committee, Alicia Kearns, said Britain must be an “important friend” in challenging Israel.

She told BBC Radio 4’s about it The world is one the judicial overhaul provoked “the biggest response and loudest reaction I have ever seen from the Jewish community to Israeli policy.”

Mr Netanyahu, who was also due to meet Interior Minister Suella Braverman, was forced to postpone his trip to the UK amid mass protests in Israel that blocked major roads and clashed with police.

As Mr Sunak greeted him outside No 10, chants of “Bush”, or shame in Hebrew, could be heard from protesters lining Whitehall.

One sign labeled Mr Netanyahu a “dictator on the run” as he faced internal turmoil after his right-wing nationalist coalition approved the controversial law.

Members of the crowd called on Mr. Sunak to “stand up for democracy” in Israel.

Tali, an Israeli tech worker who has been living in London for six years, said she was protesting Netanyahu’s “judicial coup”.

“During the trial, he is trying to gain power and is trying to turn Israel into an undemocratic country,” she said.

“We want not only Rishi Sunak, but the international community and leaders to put pressure on Netanyahu – be it financial deals or something in general – to abandon this coup.

“My family and friends live in Israel and I worry about their future.”

Chamutal Isaacs, a maternity worker who moved to London from Tel Aviv 32 years ago, said the overhaul would mean “the end of any democracy in Israel”.

“I want Rishi Sunak to tell him that he must lose his seat and he cannot continue to be the prime minister of Israel. He is destroying democracy in Israel,” she said.

After a series of scandals involving wealthy associates, Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and bribery. He denies guilt.

Critics say his government, the most right-wing in Israel’s history, is dragging the nation toward authoritarianism by overturning its system of checks and balances.

A smaller number of Palestinian protesters were also in Westminster.

Oxfam’s policy adviser Richard Stanforth said: “It is disingenuous that the Prime Minister is rolling out the red carpet for Benjamin Netanyahu to deepen diplomatic relations despite the fact that the Israeli government commits appalling human rights abuses on a seemingly daily basis with impunity.”

Amnesty International UK representative Christian Benedict accused the UK government of “turning a blind eye to the atrocities of apartheid”.

“Netanyahu is more concerned about finding legitimacy for his government than looking at his increasingly extremist policies, his occupation forces in the Palestinian territories killing civilians, stealing their land and building illegal new settlements,” he said.

“Britain and Israel’s rejection of this reality will not change the truth or illegality of the current situation. All it does is help strengthen Israel’s racist apartheid system against the Palestinian people.”