"Israel's president will visit London next Thursday just weeks before the UK is expected to recognise the state of Palestine at the UN general assembly, the Guardian understands."
"Downing Street has previously indicated that the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, faces arrest if he travels to the UK after the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza."
"Herzog himself has received particular attention for a statement he made where he asserted that all Palestinians in Gaza were unequivocally responsible for the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. The entire [Palestinian] nation out there that is responsible. It is not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware, not involved, said Herzog in October 2023. That statement was given additional weight when it was included in the International Court of Justice's order of the 26 of January 2024 findng it was plausible that Israel has committed acts that violate the Genocide Convention and insisting that Israel must ensure with immediate effect that its forces not commit any of the acts prohibited by the convention and to protect Gaza's population from further risk of genocide."
"Herzog, who is from a different political party to the prime minister, has a more ceremonial role and has previously clashed with Netanyahu over democratic and judicial changes but has broadly backed the military campaign in Gaza."
Isaac Herzog is expected to visit London next Thursday to meet UK ministers and senior political figures. The trip would be the first senior Israeli visit to Britain since foreign secretary David Lammy's unannounced spring meeting with Gideon Sa'ar. A meeting between Herzog and Labour leader Keir Starmer is likely to provoke controversy given the death, destruction and starvation from Israel's war in Gaza. Downing Street has not confirmed a meeting with the prime minister and has previously warned Benjamin Netanyahu could face arrest in the UK after an ICC arrest warrant. Herzog holds a largely ceremonial role, has clashed with Netanyahu over democratic and judicial changes, and has broadly supported the military campaign in Gaza. Herzog asserted that all Palestinians in Gaza bore responsibility for the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack. The International Court of Justice's 26 January 2024 order found it plausible that Israel committed acts violating the Genocide Convention and required immediate measures to prevent prohibited acts and protect Gaza's population.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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