Pressure Mounts on Sunak to Stop Arming Israel
Consortium NewsMar 23
UK Conservative Party to Investigate Former Minister Over Israel Comments
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The Facts
Former Conservative Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan is being investigated by his party for comments he made criticizing politicians from the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) group.
During an interview with the radio show LBC, Sir Duncan claimed that there were many at the "top of our own politics" who "refuse to condemn settlements," and consequently "are not supporters of international law."
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
Comments like those made by Sir Duncan go directly against the principles of the Conservative party and the British nation. Some may have forgotten that Israel, an ally of the UK, has faced the threat of losing their country since long before Oct. 7 and that, following that attack, almost 150K have been displaced from their homes. Benjamin Netanyahu's policies, which align with the UK's policy of deterring Iran, are very popular among Israelis and should be pursued and unambiguously supported by Western allies until Hamas is completely destroyed.
Anti-Israel narrative
If Sir Duncan is indeed removed from his party, he will become the first Tory to ever face punishment for defending international law. While it's politicians like Tom Tugendhat who are on the record condemning calls for Israel to follow the law, it's people like Sir Duncan, who call out atrocities when they see them, that face government backlash. If the Tory government fails to back these legitimate criticisms, then it can no longer claim to represent the values of the party.