Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is exerting increasing pressure on UK opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer to lift the suspension on arms licenses to Israel.

This came after a phone call between the two leaders, where Netanyahu raised the issue of Britain halting about 30 arms licenses.

The conversation took place just hours after Donald Trump was sworn in as US president, marking a shift in international dynamics.

Differences in Accounts of the Call

In a statement released by Israel’s government press office, Netanyahu’s concerns were outlined, noting that Sir Keir Starmer had acknowledged that an evaluation of the issue was ongoing.

However, Downing Street focused its comments on the UK leader’s gratitude for the rescue of British hostage Emily Damari, choosing not to directly address the arms licenses controversy.

The situation has sparked renewed debate as Netanyahu seems to be leveraging his relationship with the newly inaugurated President Trump, who has shown more support for Israel, particularly in reversing previous sanctions and policies set by the Biden administration.

Trump’s Influence on Israeli-UK Relations

The shift in US policy under Trump, including the reversal of sanctions on extremist West Bank settlers and the cessation of funding for UNRWA, contrasts sharply with the UK’s stance.

While Netanyahu’s government has been critical of the UK’s approach, Sir Keir’s Labour government reinstated funding to UNRWA and imposed a ‘secret arms embargo,’ a move that was exposed and heavily criticized in Israel.

The arms embargo triggered outrage from Netanyahu, who accused the UK of sending the wrong message to groups like Hamas.

Ongoing Challenges for Netanyahu’s Leadership

Amid this international pressure, Israeli leadership is facing its own internal challenges.

Israel’s Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, announced his resignation effective March 6, acknowledging his role in the military’s failure to prevent the October 7 Hamas attack that resulted in numerous casualties and hostages.

This came amid rumors that Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar might also resign once all hostages are returned.

However, Netanyahu has not signaled any plans to step down, despite his controversial judicial reforms, which sparked mass unrest prior to the attack.

UK’s Continued Support for Palestinian Humanitarian Aid

In the wake of these diplomatic tensions, the UK remains focused on humanitarian issues in Gaza.

Sir Keir reiterated the importance of ensuring that aid reaches those in need and emphasized the UK’s commitment to supporting a political process that could lead to a viable Palestinian state.

However, the diplomatic rift with Israel over the arms embargo could complicate future relations between the two nations.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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