Israeli minister thanks UK’s Farage for support against sanctions

Jerusalem, Israel - Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar spoke with Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain's hard-right Reform UK party, on Wednesday to express gratitude for Farage's opposition to UK sanctions imposed on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. These settlements are deemed illegal under international law due to their alleged "ethnic cleansing" tactics against Palestinians. France and Canada have also imposed trade restrictions on Israeli settlements.

Farage assured Saar that, if his party assumes power, they would reverse the damage inflicted on the UK-Israel relationship by the former Labour government, as stated by Saar. However, Farage also raised the sensitive issue of the Falklands with Saar, a topic that has caused friction between the two nations. He emphasized the Falklands' significance to the British people, despite acknowledging Israel's ongoing dispute with Argentina over the islands' sovereignty.

The escalating tensions between Israel, the UK, and Argentina are rooted in Argentina's President Javier Milei's recent hardline stance, which has been supported by Israeli firebrand National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Milei, a close ally of Netanyahu, is determined to assert Argentina's claim to the Falklands following the UK's recent sanctions.

On Tuesday, Saar held discussions with British Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat about the sanctions. Additionally, he engaged in talks with Melissa Lantsman, deputy leader of Canada's Conservatives, to address the ongoing conflict.