The UK has suspended trade deal negotiations with Israel over its military operations in Gaza. Foreign secretary David Lammy told the Commons:
“We have suspended negotiations with this Israeli government on a new free trade agreement. We will be reviewing co-operation with them under the 2030 bilateral roadmap. The Netanyahu government’s actions have made this necessary. I say now to the people of Israel, we want I want a strong friendship with you based on shared values and with flourishing ties between our people and societies. The conduct of the war in Gaza is damaging our relationship with your government. And as the prime minister has said, if Israel pursues this military offensive as it has threatened failing to ensure the unhindered provision of aid, we will take further action in response.”
The Israeli ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office in London. A big escalation…
UPDATE: An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson said:
“If, due to anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations, the British government is willing to harm the British economy – that is its own prerogative. External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction.”
Speaking on Times Radio, former Home Secretary David Blunkett spoke about overdiagnosis of mental problems:
“Let’s distinguish those who are really severely mentally ill, diagnosed with things that require prolonged medical and diagnostic treatment. My wife and I talk about this a lot, because she’s a retired GP, about the fact that you can be sad without being ill. You can be momentarily depressed because your boyfriend or girlfriend’s just thrown you and you’re not mentally ill. You can even have mild issues, which can be dealt with with the right kind of support, but it doesn’t make you mentally ill. So we’ve got a real task, I think, to get the psychology, if you like, of this over. But there are things where you definitely need medical intervention, and there are other things where you need good friends, you need good connectivity, and you need a job.”