(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)
President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog departed yesteday (Sunday, 21 November 2021) on an official visit to the United Kingdom.
During the visit, the President will hold official meetings, including with HRH The Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Members of Parliament, and Jewish community leaders. The President will also be a guest of honor at a special Genesis Prize Foundation event paying tribute to the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks one year after his passing.
Before departure, the President said: “I am departing with Michal on a 48-hour official visit to Britain—one of Israel’s most powerful and closest allies... I commend the British Government’s decision to recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization, with all that entails. This is a supremely important step in the war on terror."
FM Lapid - A joint effort of the Ministry, PM Bennett & Def Min Gantz
Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid in response to the United Kingdom’s anticipated decision to declare all wings of Hamas as a terrorist organization said that the anticipated decision is another achievement for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Minister Lapid’s policy of bridge-building diplomacy, joint efforts with Prime Minister Bennett, Defense Minister Gantz, and the security services.
“I thank Home Secretary Priti Patel, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, and the entire British government for their expected decision to recognize all arms of the Hamas terrorist organization as a terrorist organization," Mr. Lapid said. “This is an important and significant decision that gives UK security forces additional tools to prevent the continued strengthening of the Hamas terrorist organization, including in Britain itself.
“There is no legitimate part of a terrorist organization, and any attempt to differentiate between parts of a terrorist organization is artificial.
“The announcement anticipated today is the conclusion of an intimate and successful dialogue between Israel and the United Kingdom led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the security services, and our Embassy in London led by Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely, and we thank the British government for their fruitful cooperation on this issue as well.”