Tom Watson, Labour's deputy leader, led a delegation of MPs on a trip to Israel today, saying he wanted to pay respects on behalf of his party at Yad Vashem.
Mr Watson was photographed in Jerusalem laying a wreath at the Hall of Remembrance on behalf of the party flanked by fellow MPs Dame Rosie Winterton, Michael Dugher, Ruth Smeeth and Gloria De Piero.
Mr Watson said: “I wanted to come back to Israel and the Palestinian Territories and to pay respects on behalf of the UK Labour Party at Yad Vashem.
"We remembered those who died in the Holocaust and renewed our determination to fight racism and antisemitism - whatever form it takes and wherever it exists.
“We travelled to East Jerusalem to meet inspiring young entrepreneurs from both the Israeli and Palestinian communities studying together.
"I am also looking forward to meeting Isaac Herzog and other members of our sister party to build on our friendships and our determination to work for peace in the Middle East."
The visit to Israel by the senior MPs was organised by Labour Friends of Israel and was due to include a meeting tonight with Isaac Herzog, leader of the Israeli Labour Party.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had neglected to take up a similar offer to visit Israel and Yad Vashem from Mr Herzog earlier this year.
Today’s visit was Mr Watson’s first foreign trip as Deputy Leader. He is a long-standing supporter of LFI and vice-chair of Trade Union Friends of Israel.
Jennifer Gerber, LFI director, told the JC: “LFI is delighted to take Tom to Israel along with the other MPs.
“It’s vital that at a time of growing antisemitism Tom has joined us to visit Yad Vashem as well as meeting a coexistence project that brings Israelis and Palestinians together.
“We are also honoured to meet Isaac Herzog to discuss how we can strengthen the bonds of friendship between our parties.”
It is understood Mr Corbyn asked Mr Watson to lead the delegation in his place.
“Hopefully the fact that Mr Watson has led such a high-level delegation of his party’s MPs to Israel will go some way to showing their political allies over there that they do still have many friends within the Labour Party,” said a source.
The delegation were due to meet some of the leading lights in Israel’s high-tech industry tomorrow before returning to the UK on Thursday.
Mr Watson will also be a guest speaker at the LFI annual lunch later this month.
