Conservative Middle East Council

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The Conservative Middle East Council (CMEC) was set up in 1980 to act as a focal point within the Conservative Party (UK), in particular within the Conservative Parliamentary Party, for members and MPs (Member of Parliament) with an interest in the Middle East.

[edit] Background

One of its principle aims is to provide balance within the Conservative party on the issue of Israel and Palestine. The Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) is a well-funded and well organised lobby with nearly 80 percent of Conservative MPs as members. It was thought that because CFI is very strongly supportive of Israel that it would be useful for there to be group which was more inclined to support the Palestinian cause. Conservative MP Crispin Blunt (b.1960) is the current Chairman of the CMEC.^[1] The Conservative Middle East Council should not be confused with CAABU, which is the Council for Advancement of Arab-British Understanding. CAABU is not affiliated to any particular political party.