Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he “argued” but also had points of agreement with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during their latest meeting at Downing Street on Wednesday.
“We had a very frank and open discussion,” Herzog said at a closed event hosted by the Chatham House think tank in London, as hundreds of anti-war protesters rallied outside against his appearance at the world-renowned institute.
“It was a meeting between allies, but it was a tough meeting,” he said.
“It was a meeting at which things were said that were tough and strong. And clearly we can argue, because when allies meet we can argue.”
Herzog had met Starmer earlier in the day at Downing Street – just hours after the prime minister condemned Israel’s strike on a residential building in the Qatari capital Doha, where senior Hamas members had gathered to examine the latest US proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on
Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
At the event, Herzog said he expressed his view that “the unilateral resolution regarding a Palestinian state would be adverse and negatively affect any future process”.
“It’s perceived as if you don’t agree with British opinion, with the government’s opinion, then we will punish you with a Palestinian state,” Herzog said.
“Prime Minister Starmer presented his views regarding a Palestinian state, regarding the humanitarian aid in Gaza. And I offered that there will be a fact-finding mission coming to Israel, sitting with us and studying the situation in Gaza on a humanitarian level, because we have full answers and we are fully transparent,” he added.
Exclusive: Met Police appoint prosecutor to ‘urgently review’ application for Israeli president’s arrest
Read More »
Britain is set to recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly later this month if Israel fails to meet certain conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.
“We argue, we definitely argued, out of respect,” Herzog said. “We also had things that we agreed upon. We agreed that Iran is a worldwide threat. We agreed that Hamas must be removed.
“We agree on it, but how to do it, how to reach from this point of an idea into reality? Then, of course, starts the argument.”
News of Herzog’s visit to Britain sparked widespread outrage, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is wanted for alleged war crimes by the International Criminal Court, and Herzog himself has backed Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police’s counter terrorism division appointed a senior specialist prosecutor to “urgently” review an application for an arrest warrant against Herzog.
Middle East Eye understands that the application, which was submitted by the pro-Palestine group Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA), referred to remarks Herzog made in October 2023 that all Palestinians in Gaza were “unequivocally” responsible for the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack.
“It is not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved,” he said in comments that South Africa submitted to the International Court of Justice during its genocide case against Israel.
FOA said that parts of statements Herzog made were “repeated by senior Israeli military command conducting a campaign of indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian objects in Gaza.”
