Parliamentarian group in UK supporting closer ties with Israel
Labour Friends of Israel Abbreviation LFI Formation October 1957 (1957-10 ) Purpose Promotes support for a strong bilateral relationship betweenBritain andIsrael Headquarters London Membership 120 Official language
English Honorary President
Joan Ryan [ 1] Parliamentary Chair
Jon Pearce Lay Chair
Adrian Cohen Director
Michael Rubin Website lfi.org.uk
Labour Friends of Israel (LFI ) is a group in theParliament of the United Kingdom that advocates a strong bilateral relationship between theUnited Kingdom andIsrael , and seeks to strengthen ties between the BritishLabour Party and theIsraeli Labor Party . LFI says it supports atwo-state solution to theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict , with Israel recognised and secure within its borders, and the establishment of a viablePalestinian state .[ 2] [update] Parliamentary Labour Party .[ 3]
History LFI was founded at the 1957Labour Party Conference .[ 4] Israeli Labor Party , it organises meetings of senior figures in both the UK and Israel.
In 2003, LFI described itself as "a Westminster based lobby group working within the British Labour Party to promote the State of Israel".[ 5] Conservative Friends of Israel ".[ 6] [ 6]
In 2010, Jennifer Gerber, previously director ofProgress and before that, special advisor toAndy Burnham , was appointed director.
In 2011, LFI adopted a new strategy of becoming a wider membership organisation and of operating under the slogan "Working Towards a Two-State Solution".
In 2011,John Woodcock was appointed chair,[ 7] [ 8] [ 9] Anne McGuire and,[ 10] Joan Ryan .[ 11] [ 12]
In 2014,Adrian Cohen , a corporate lawyer, the chair of theLondon Jewish Forum , a trustee of theJewish Leadership Council and a deputy of theBoard of Deputies of British Jews , was appointed Lay Chair.[ 13] [ 14]
2016 onwards With the ascent to the leadership of the Labour Party, in September 2015, ofJeremy Corbyn , who has a history of support forPalestinians , the relationship between the LFI and the party leadership deteriorated.
LFI had been depleted of Parliamentary supporters who had lost their seats at the2015 general election . In 2016, LFI announced it had trebled its number of Parliamentary supporters, stating that 65 MPs had pledged to back the group, at a time when many MPs rebelled against the leadership of the party. LFI re-branded itself as "Labour Friends of Israel: For Israel, For Palestine, For Peace", created a Young LFI group, and stated it would support theAlliance for Middle East Peace 's international fund.[ 15] [ 16]
In early 2017,Al Jazeera The Lobby Israel lobby in the United Kingdom , particularly relating to the Labour Party.[ 17] [ 18] [ 19]
In March 2018, supporters of LFI, along with theBoard of Deputies of British Jews and theJewish Leadership Council , took part in a protest critical of the Corbyn leadership, stating thatantisemitism was present in the Labour Party.
In February 2019, after having lost a vote of no confidence by her local constituency Labour Party,[ 20] Joan Ryan resigned from the Labour Party to join the recently formedThe Independent Group but retained her position as Chair of LFI. She became Honorary President in August 2019 and DameLouise Ellman succeeded her as Parliamentary Chair.[ 1] [ 21] [ 22]
As of July 2020, around a quarter of the Parliamentary Labour Party and a third of the shadow cabinet were members of the group.[ 23] [ 3] Rosie Cooper ,Chris Evans ,Dame Diana Johnson ,Peter Kyle ,Conor McGinn andCatherine McKinnell .[ 24]
Related groups The Yigal Allon Educational Trust, founded in 1985 by former Prime MinisterHarold Wilson ,Ian Mikardo MP,Lord Glenamara and others, has supported Labour Friends of Israel.[ 25] [ 26] [non-primary source needed
Parliamentary supporters of LFI As of February 2022, the officers, sitting MPs, Lords and former members who were supporters of LFI are set out below.
Officers Labour (unless otherwise stated)
Sitting MPs Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Lammy is a supporter of Labour Friends of Israel.[ 22] [ 30] Labour (unless otherwise stated)
Sitting Lords Labour (unless otherwise stated)
Former members David Abrahams , former Treasurer[ 32] Lord Archer of Sandwell [ 33] SirStuart Bell [ 34] Luciana Berger , former Director of LFI[ 35] Tony Blair , formerPrime Minister [ 36] [ 37] Gordon Brown , formerPrime Minister [ 36] [ 37] [ 38] Nick Brown Stephen Byers , formerSecretary of State for Trade and Industry Jon Cruddas Andrew Dismore Michael Dugher [ 39] Derek Foster Anthony Greenwood , first Chair of LFI (1957)[ 4] Andrew Gwynne Baroness Hayman Joan Humble Barbara Keeley Jane Kennedy , Chair of LFI (2007)Ivan Lewis , former vice-chair of LFI[ 40] Lord Macdonald of Tradeston Denis MacShane Steve McCabe , former Parliamentary chair (from 2020 to 2024)Michael McCann , Vice-chair of LFI[ 41] Anne McGuire , Chair of LFI (2013)[ 10] Jonathan Mendelsohn , former Chair of LFI (2002)[ 42] Alun Michael , former Leader of theWelsh Labour Party Andrew Miller Jim Murphy , former Chair of LFI (2001), formerSecretary of State for Scotland [ 43] Dan Norris Nick Palmer James Purnell , former Chair of LFI, formerSecretary of State for Work and Pensions [ 44] John Reid , formerHome Secretary (2007)[ 45] Terry Rooney Dari Taylor Gary Titley Glenis Willmott , Vice Chair of LFILord Winston John Woodcock [ 46] Iain Wright , former Chair of LFI (2006)Lord Young of Norwood Green
See also
References ^a b Harpin, Lee (7 August 2019)."Dame Louise Ellman becomes new Labour Friends of Israel chair" .The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved7 August 2019 . ^ "About Labour Friends of Israel" .Labour Friends of Israel . 22 January 2013. Retrieved5 June 2024 .^a b Judah, Jacob (29 July 2020)."Labour Friends of Israel director to step down in September" .The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved2 September 2020 . ^a b Labour Friends of Israel (8 December 2008)."Labour Friends of Israel – 50 Years" . Archived fromthe original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved18 December 2007 . ^ "Labour Friends Of Israel website – about us" . 1 August 2003. Archived fromthe original on 1 August 2003. Retrieved10 December 2008 .^a b Black, Ian (16 November 2009)."Pro-Israel lobby group bankrolling Tories, film claims" .The Guardian . Retrieved16 November 2009 . ^ Dysch, Marcus (7 September 2010)."New strategy for Labour Friends of Israel" .The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved13 October 2011 . ^ Bright, Martin (13 January 2011)."Israel friends change tack and relaunch" .The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved13 October 2011 .^ Dysch, Marcus (19 October 2011)."Labour Friends go to Israel" .The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved13 October 2011 . ^a b "Stirling MP Anne McGuire to chair Labour Friends of Israel" .The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved24 June 2013 .^ Marcus Dysch (10 August 2015)."Don't vote for Jeremy Corbyn, urges new Labour Friends of Israel chair Joan Ryan" .Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved1 May 2016 . ^ Harpin, Lee (7 August 2019)."Dame Louise Ellman becomes new Labour Friends of Israel chair" .The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved7 August 2019 . ^ Rocker, Simon (19 June 2014)."Miliband warms the hearts of the Labour Friends" .The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved18 October 2019 . ^ "Adrian Cohen" .Jewish Leadership Council . Retrieved25 September 2019 .^ "U.K Labour Party pro-Israel Group Triples Support Ahead of Relaunch" .Haaretz . 22 September 2016. Retrieved31 January 2019 .^ Dysch, Marcus (22 September 2016)."MPs flock to support Labour Israel group" .The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved12 August 2018 . ^ "The Lobby" .Al Jazeera . January 2017. Retrieved1 May 2018 .^ MacAskill, Ewen (8 January 2017)."Israeli diplomat who plotted against MPs also set up political groups" .The Guardian . Retrieved1 May 2018 . ^ Cohen, Justin (21 March 2017)."Labour dismiss complaint against Joan Ryan MP over Al Jazeera series" .Jewish News . Retrieved1 May 2018 . ^ "Labour's Joan Ryan and Gavin Shuker lose no-confidence votes" .BBC News . Retrieved21 April 2020 .^ "MP Louise Ellman quits Labour Party" .BBC News . Retrieved5 December 2022 .^a b c d "LFI Supporters in Parliament" .Labour Friends of Israel . 18 October 2019.^ "Labour frontbench MPs join Labour Friends of Israel as new vice-chairs" .Labour List . 9 September 2020.^ "Labour Friends of Israel doubles number of vice-chairs to 11" .Jewish News . Retrieved20 September 2020 .^ "Yigal Allon Educational Trust" . Stone Ashdown Trust. Archived fromthe original on 9 November 2009. Retrieved17 November 2009 .^ "Yigal Allon Educational Trust, registered charity no. 327009 " .Charity Commission for England and Wales .^ "Labour Friends of Israel announces new parliamentary chair" .Labour Friends of Israel . 17 September 2024. Retrieved23 September 2024 .^a b c "Labour Friends of Israel announces three new honorary vice-chairs" .Labour Friends of Israel . 27 November 2024. Retrieved27 November 2024 .^a b "LFI Parliamentary Supporters" .Labour Friends of Israel . Retrieved14 February 2022 .^a b McEvoy, John (25 January 2024)."David Lammy: Friend of Israel" .Declassified UK . Retrieved2 July 2024 . ^ "Over-zealous attacks on Israel are 'anti-semitism by proxy', says Labour MP Chris Bryant" .The Independent . 29 March 2016.Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved10 April 2018 .^ Symons, Leon; et al."David Abrahams gave in secret 'to quell conspiracy fears' .The Jewish Chronicle the original on 9 December 2007. ^ "Who We Are" . Labour Friends of Israel. Archived fromthe original on 27 July 2008.^ Bell, Stuart (30 January 2008)."Sir Stuart Bell MP, Biography" . Archived fromthe original on 30 January 2008. ^ Bartlett, David (5 February 2010)."Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson could run for parliament in Liverpool" .Liverpool Echo . Retrieved7 February 2010 . ^a b Uni, Assaf (10 December 2007)."Finance scandal has local community worried" .Haaretz ^a b Temko, Ned (2 December 2007)."Behind-the-scenes group's unerring knack of backing the right man" .The Observer ISSN 0029-7712 .^ Brown, Gordon (25 September 2007)."Speech by Gordon Brown to the LFI Annual Reception" . Labour Friends of Israel. Archived fromthe original on 19 December 2007.^ Wright, Oliver (10 October 2010)."Anger grows within Labour over forced Palestinian vote" .The Independent . Retrieved23 February 2015 . ^ H. M. Cabinet Office (2003)."Speaker Biographies, Ivan Lewis MP" . Archived fromthe original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved7 December 2008 . ^ Dysch, Marcus (25 February 2015)."Labour MP Michael McCann calls for total Hamas ban" .The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved26 February 2015 . ^ Hope, Christopher (9 February 2007)."Jon Mendelsohn profile: a real Mr Fix-It" .The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved7 January 2019 . ^ Mulholland, Hélène (3 October 2008)."Government reshuffle: Profile: Jim Murphy" .The Guardian ISSN 0261-3077 . ^ Purnell, James (12 December 2002)."Five days in Israel" .The Guardian .ISSN 0261-3077 .^ Kite, Melissa and Hennessy, Patrick (5 January 2005)."David Blunkett to return to the Cabinet in major reshuffle" .The Daily Telegraph the original on 23 November 2007.{{cite news }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Dysch, Marcus (5 July 2011)."Labour Friends of Israel name new chair" .The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved21 October 2011 .
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