At a dozen of Labour’s recently elected Members of Parliament have been to Israel as part of visits organised by Labour Friends of Israel (LFI).
One of LFI’s key functions is to take delegations of British MPs, peers, parliamentary candidates and ordinary party activists on visits to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
The new MP for Wirral West Matthew Patrick, who is Jewish, went in March this year, on the first LFI delegation to take place since the atrocities committed by terror group Hamas on October 7.
He told the JC: “The delegation I took part in spoke with experts on the region, politicians, journalists and peace activists in Israel and in Palestine. Speaking to them, you realise the horror that this conflict is inflicting on people and the deep yearning for peace and safety. You also realise that among the pain is a hope for peace.
“It’s the emotions I’ll never forget – of people who have lost loved ones on the brutal attack on October 7 and in the war since.
“I stood at Kibbutz Be’eri. I stood in the room where peace activist Vivian Silver spent her last moments. Before Hamas brutally ended her life – a life that had been dedicated to peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
“I left feeling enormous sadness and a determination to deepen my own knowledge of the region and channel my efforts towards promoting understanding and peace.”
Another of Labour’s new intake, Mike Tapp, the MP for Dover and Deal, visited Israel in July last year.
Steve McCabe (front left), Mike Tapp MP (furthest left second row) and Israeli President Isaac Herzog (front right) during a Labour Friends of Israel delegation. Credit: LFI[Missing Credit]
“During the trip we visited Kibbutz Kfar Aza close to the Gaza border. It struck me how difficult the security situation was for residents living there, but nothing prepared me for hearing about the atrocities that the community suffered there,” the former soldier told the JC.
He continued, “A takeaway from that trip was that there was little hope for sustained peace at that time. That was of course further damaged on October 7.
“I very much hope for a sustained ceasefire, for the innocent civilians in Gaza and for the hostages still being held.”
Other MPs elected in 2024 who have been on LFI delegations include Danny Beales (Uxbridge and South Ruislip), Kevin Bonavia (Stevenage), Greame Downie (Dunfermline and Dollar), Melanie Onn (Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, previously an MP between 2015-2019), Jon Pearce (High Peak), Jo Platt (Leigh and Atherton, previously an MP between 2015-2019), Mike Reader (Northampton South), Jake Richards (Rother Valley), Jessica Toale (Bournemouth West) and Dan Tomlinson (Chipping Barnet).
An LFI spokesperson told the JC: “Delegations to Israel and the Palestinian territories are the single best way for politicians to gain an in-depth, on-the-ground understanding of the complex realities of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
“LFI delegations give parliamentarians and parliamentary candidates the opportunity to meet with Israeli and Palestinian politicians, academics, activists and opinion formers for a wide-ranging and comprehensive introduction to the history, culture and politics of the region, preparing them to engage constructively and knowledgeably about one of the most prominent foreign policy issues we face.”
