Labour Friends of Israel
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Labour Friends of Israel is a UK Parliament based campaign lobby group promoting support within the British Labour Party for a strong bilateral relationship between Britain and Israel. It also seeks to strengthen ties between the British and the Israeli Labour party. Labour Friends of Israel supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Israel recognised and secure within its borders and the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.[1]
Founded in October 1957 at a public rally at the Labour Party Conference,[1] it has developed into one of the largest special interest groups in the Labour Party drawing wide support from Members of Parliament and Government Ministers. Labour Friends of Israel has a large membership, organised into local branches. It seeks to strengthen the bond between the British Labour Party and the Israeli Labor Party, organising meetings in both the UK and Israel between senior figures. In 2003 it described itself as "a Westminster based lobby group working within the British Labour Party to promote the State of Israel".[2]
As of 25th September 2007 its Chair was Jane Kennedy MP and President was Rt Hon Gwyneth Dunwoody (Deceased) MP. Vice Chairs were Barbara Keeley MP, Andrew Dismore MP, Louise Ellman MP and Gary Titley MP. Members of the Labour Friends of Israel Policy Council were Rt Hon Stephen Byers MP, Rt Hon Derek Foster MP, Rt Hon George Foulkes MSP, Jane Kennedy MP, Rt Hon Paul Murphy MP, Rt Hon Don Touhig MP and Denis MacShane MP. House of Lords Chair was Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale.
The Labour Friends of Israel is a distinct organisation to the Jewish Labour Movement, the affiliated socialist society and successor to the UK Poale Zion.
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[edit] Members of LFI
In alphabetical order, members of Labour Friends of Israel include:
- David Abrahams - former Treasurer[2]
- Lord Archer of Sandwell[3]
- Stuart Bell MP[4]
- Tony Blair former MP and Prime Minister
- Gordon Brown MP[5]
- Chris Bryant MP[6]
- Stephen Byers MP[7]
- Ivor Caplin MP - former Vice Chair[8]
- Wayne David MP[9]
- Andrew Dismore MP[10]
- Louise Ellman MP[11]
- Derek Foster MP[12]
- George Foulkes MP[13]
- Mike Gapes MP - former Deputy Chairman (2004)[14]
- Anthony Greenwood MP - first Chair (1957)[15]
- Fabian Hamilton MP[16]
- Kim Howells MP - former Chairman[17]
- Joan Humble MP[18]
- Baroness Hayman[19]
- Barbara Keeley MP[20]
- Jane Kennedy MP[21] - Chair (2007)[22]
- Ashok Kumar MP[23]
- Michael Abraham Levy, Baron Levy ( Lord Levy )
- Ivan Lewis MP[24]
- Lord Macdonald of Tradeston[25]
- Denis MacShane MP[26]
- Jonathan Mendelsohn - former Chairman (2002)[27]
- Andrew Miller MP[28]
- Jim Murphy MP - former Chairman (2001)[29]
- Dan Norris MP[30]
- Nick Palmer MP[31]
- James Purnell MP - former Chairman[32]
- Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale[33]
- John Reid MP[34]
- Terry Rooney MP[35]
- Siôn Simon MP[36]
- Dari Taylor MP[37]
- Gary Titley MP[38]
- Stephen Twigg MP - former Chair[39]
- Lord Winston[40]
- Iain Wright MP - Chair (2006)[41]
- Lord Young of Norwood Green[42]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Labour Friends of Israel, 1997 General Election information,1 May 1997
- Labour Friends of Israel event speech, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, 2 November 2005
- Speech by PM Tony Blair to LFI Annual Reception, Prime Minister Tony Blair, 26 September, 2006
- Speech by Gordon Brown to the LFI Annual Reception, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, 25 September 2007
