Over his six years in office, Cameron’s public position towards Israel softened significantly enough that by 2015 he was hailed as the most supportive British Prime Minister in history by Israeli officials, writes The Jewish Chronicle.

 

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron was appointed Foreign Secretary (Minister) in the framework of a cabinet reshuffle by current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The reshuffle comes as Sunak attempts to reassert his authority, with his ruling Conservative Party trailing opposition Labour by more than 20 points in opinion polls ahead of a general election due before January 2025.

Interior Minister Suella Braverman was dismissed byu Sunak after she wrote an op-ed in The Times newspaper, ignoring guidance from Downing Street and accusing London police of political bias in authorizing a pro-Palestinian demonstration.

The former interior minister has long been a controversial figure, attracting criticism over her plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda and her comments describing homelessness as a “lifestyle choice.

James Cleverly, who formerly served as Foreign Secretary, was appointed Braverman’s successor.

In a statement following his appointment, Cameron said : ‘’We are facing a daunting set of international challenges, including the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle Eas.’’

“At this time of profound global change, it has rarely been more important for this country to stand by our allies, strengthen our partnerships and make sure our voice is heard.”

The newly Foreign Secretary has said Israel has an ‘undeniable’ right to defend itself, writes The Jewish Chronicle. But the paper also recalled Cameron’s critique of Israel’s policy towards the Palestinians.

In July 2010, shortly after he came into office and brought the Conservative Party back into power for the first time in 13 years, Cameron travelled to Ankara and condemned Israel in a speech to Turkish business leaders.

“The situation in Gaza has to change,” he told them. “Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.”

Israel’s ambassador to Britain at the time, Ron Prosor (currently ambassador in Germany), hit back, telling Cameron that Gaza was indeed a prison camp, but one controlled by Hamas.

However, over his six years in office, Cameron’s public position towards Israel softened significantly enough that by 2015 he was hailed as the most supportive British Prime Minister in history by Israeli officials, writes The Jewish Chronicle.

In 2016, David Cameron resigned, bringing an abrupt end to his six-year premiership, after the British public took the momentous decision to leave the European Union.

“My Jewish ancestry is relatively limited but I do feel some sense of connection from the lexicon of my great-great grandfather, Emile Levita, a Jewish man who came from Germany to Britain 150 years ago, to the story of my forefather, Elijah Levita, who wrote what is thought to have been the first-ever Yiddish novel,” he added.