Inside the surreal UK parliament debate on pro-Israel influence dominated by lobby group members (www.middleeasteye.net)

submitted 18 hours ago by geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk

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The UK parliament's Westminster Hall saw a highly unusual debate on Monday evening on a petition to "call a public inquiry into pro-Israel influence on politics & democracy".

The petition, which received more than 118,000 signatures from members of the public, said: "We are concerned about reported Israeli state-linked and pro-Israel lobbying activity in UK politics. We believe it is important to determine the scope and impact of any such influence campaigns." Petitions to parliament which receive more than 100,000 signatures are always debated on.

However, this debate consisted mainly of Conservative and Labour MPs who are members of pro-Israel groups saying the petition was antisemitic, while a minority who spoke in favour of it posed detailed questions about lobbying and transparency which went unanswered.

James Frith, a government minister and the parliamentary under-secretary of state for digital government, said that "the government do not support a public inquiry solely on pro-Israeli influence". He further said: "We should condemn the readiness, ease and tendency to hold 300,000 British Jews collectively accountable for the actions of the Israeli government."

At that point, Independent MP Adnan Hussain stood up and said: "Can I ask the minister why so many in this house, including himself, conflate the Jewish faith and Jewish people with the actions of the state of Israel?"

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[-] Armand1@lemmy.world 8 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

Absolutely insane behaviour.

Ali said: "Pro-Israeli lobby groups have paid hundreds of thousands in political donations in the UK. The amount of evidence, which I will refrain from sharing due to limited time, is countless."

He cited a 2024 report by Declassified UK that "13 of the then 25 members of the Labour Cabinet received hundreds of thousands in donations from pro-Israel donors, and that some 180 of Britain’s 650 MPs had accepted such funding during their political careers.

"That is one in four elected members."

As for the Israel shills, I thank them for exposing themselves.

MP Peter Prinsley, who was earlier this year found in breach of parliamentary rules for failing to declare a trip to Israel funded by Labour Friends of Israel.

He said: "Shame on those who have orchestrated this regurgitation of antisemitic tropes. It is ancient just as it is predictable."

Tory MP John Lamont said: "For centuries, at the heart of antisemitism has been the claim that Jews exercise secret control over governments...

Lamont has visited Israel with CFI in the past, including last year.

[Mitchell] said: "I fear the whole thing smacks of an antisemitic conspiracy theory."

Mitchell visited Israel in May 2025 on a trip funded by the lobby group Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI).

[Frith] added: "The UK and Israel have a deep and enduring relationship. Seventy-six years ago, we were rightly proud to recognise the state of Israel. Our commitment to the security of it and its people remains unwavering."

Frith is a member of the lobby group Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) and has been on trips to Israel organised by the group.

this post was submitted on 23 Jun 2026

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