Conservative Friends of Israel

Supporting Israel and Promoting Conservatism

Events

Past Events


CFI’s Year in Review

2011 has been an incredibly busy and productive year for all concerned with the Conservative Friends of Israel.

Throughout the year, CFI has continued to work tirelessly to meet with many of the 150 new Conservative MPs to ensure that Israel’s case is better understood and voiced in Parliament.

CFI’s delegation programme to Israel and the West Bank has been an integral part of our work. CFI has led or coordinated four separate delegations to Israel for as many as 22 Conservative MP’s in 2011. These delegations are a particularly valuable educational tool, with MPs benefiting from a first-hand understanding of the complexities of the country and wider-region.

At home, we have hosted a series of well-attended Parliamentary briefing events with leading Israeli politicians, academics and journalists. Alongside our provision of tailored briefings for parliamentary questions and debates, the weekly ‘Informed’ electronic briefing has continued to grow in popularity. The new edition of the annual ‘Informed’ magazine, which includes interesting contributions from 9 MPs, was warmly received.

CFI once again maintained a strong presence at Conservative Party Conference and this year’s event in Manchester proved our most successful yet. Conference marked the unveiling of CFI’s extremely popular new branding, including a modern logo and pop-up banners. CFI’s Annual Delegates Reception was as popular as ever with over 200 in attendance to hear a speech from Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt MP. CFI also held a private lunch for 50 parliamentarians, who were addressed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP and H.E. Daniel Taub, the newly instated Ambassador of Israel.

CFI hosted its Annual Business Lunch in early December at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel. We were delighted to welcome the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon George Osborne MP, as our guest of honour who described Israel as a “remarkable success story” during a lively on-stage interview with Daniel Finkelstein, the Executive Editor of The Times. With over 400 business people and more than 120 Conservative MPs, Peers and MEPs in attendance, the event continues to go from strength to strength.

This year’s bumper events schedule also included the popular CFI Annual Members Reception on the Terrace of the House of Commons in September, which attracted over 250 members and 60 Conservative MPs. In May, CFI hosted a Farewell Lunch for the outgoing Ambassador of Israel, H.E. Ron Prosor, which was addressed by Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon William Hague MP.

The Conservative-led Government has been quick to strengthen its bilateral relationship with Israel. In the traditional security sphere, Britain has worked closely with Israel on issues like Iran’s nuclear activities. The centre-point of the newly-bolstered relationship has been the growing economic partnership, spearheaded by the British Embassy’s high-tech hub designed to build to closer ties between burgeoning British and Israeli high-tech firms.

The year also saw a number of high profile visits to Israel by senior Conservative politicians, including Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Minister for Universities and Science, Rt Hon David Willetts MP, and Alistair Burt MP. In London, Prime Minister David Cameron hosted his Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Opposition Leader, Tzipi Livni, made a memorable visit after the Conservative Party fulfilled its pre-election pledge to amend universal jurisdiction legislation.

Looking ahead, CFI will continue to work closely at all levels of the Parliamentary Party on a range of campaign issues. The CFI team is already busy making arrangements for an equally extensive schedule of parliamentary delegations to Israel in 2012. The organisation is also keen to engage more with its ever growing membership through a reinvigorated events programme.

CFI would like to thank you for your continued support and the whole team wishes you a very happy holidays.

________________________________________

CFI’s 2011 Calendar

January 2011

• CFI Parliamentary Briefing on Gaza with Yael Ravia-Zadok from the Israel MFA

February 2011

• CFI Israel Delegation of eight new intake MPs led by the Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP
o Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP
o Guto Bebb MP
o Bob Blackman MP
o Phillip Lee MP
o Jack Lopresti MP
o Andrew Percy MP
o James Wharton MP
o Chris White MP

Better Place  
CFI Delegation at Better Place, Tel Aviv

March 2011

• CFI Parliamentary Breakfast for new intake MPs with Dr. Dan Schueftan, University of Haifa
• CFI Parliamentary Briefing with Tal Becker, former Israeli negotiator
• CFI Business Breakfast hosted by Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt MP


AB 
Alistair Burt MP addresses CFI Business Breakfast

April 2011

• CFI Parliamentary Breakfast hosted by Lee Scott MP with Israeli journalist Yaron Deckel

May 2011

• CFI Parliamentary Briefing event with H.E. Matthew Gould, British Ambassador to Israel
• CFI Farewell Lunch for Ambassador Prosor at Park Lane Four Seasons Hotel
o Over 150 guests and 30 Conservative MPs and Peers attend to hear Foreign Secretary William Hague

WH 
Rt Hon William Hague greets outgoing Ambassador Ron Prosor

June 2011

• CFI Israel Delegation with six new intake MPs
o Nigel Adams MP
o Aidan Burley MP
o James Morris MP
o Neil Parish MP
o Chloe Smith MP
o Heather Wheeler MP

Wall 
CFI Delegation at the Western Wall, Jerusalem

July 2011

• CFI Parliamentary Lunch hosted by Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP with Israeli historian Benny Morris

August 2011

• CFI prepares for Conservative Party Conference
o Fringe events organised
o Exhibition stand designed

September 2011

• CFI Annual Members Reception at House of Commons Terrace
o 250 members and 60 Conservative MPs attend
o Addressed by Alistair Burt MP, Minister for the Middle East, and the new Ambassador of Israel, H.E. Daniel Taub

Taub 
H.E. Daniel Taub, Ambassador of Israel addresses CFI Annual Members Reception

• CFI coordinates Delegation to Israel for 7 MPs
o Angie Bray MP
o Graham Evans MP
o Richard Harrington MP
o Chris Kelly MP
o Kwasi Kwarteng MP
o Jessica Lee MP
o Nadhim Zahawi MP

Meridor 
CFI Delegation meets Deputy Prime Minister, Dan Meridor

October 2011

• CFI rebrands
• CFI at Conservative Party Conference
o Annual Delegates Reception attended by over 200 and addressed by Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt MP
o Private lunch for MPs held with speeches from Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP and H.E. Daniel Taub

Panel 
CFI Delegates Reception panel

November 2011

• CFI led a delegation to Israel for Richard Ottaway MP, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee

Ottaway 
Richard Ottaway MP with Nachman Shai MK,
Chairman of the Knesset UK-Israel Friendship Committee

• CFI Parliamentary Briefing event with H.E. Matthew Gould, British Ambassador to Israel

December 2011

• CFI hosts its Annual Business Lunch with guest of honour, Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer
o Attended by 400 Business people and 120 Conservative MPs, Peers and MEPs

ABL 2011 2
Rt Hon George Osborne and Daniel Finkelstein at CFI ABL   



CFI Annual Business Lunch 2011, with Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer

• The Conservative Friends of Israel hosted its Annual Business Lunch on December 12 2011 at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel.
• The event was our most successful yet with over 400 Business people and as many as 120 Conservative MPs, Peers and MEPS.
• Keynote speaker at this year’s lunch was, Rt Hon George Osborne MP, the Chancellor of the Exchequer who was interviewed by Daniel Finkelstein, the Executive Editor of The Times.
• In a lively and varied conversation, the Chancellor spoke warmly about the strengthening bilateral relationship between the UK and Israel and emphasised the importance of a return to direct peace talks.
• Discussing his recent trip to Israel, Mr Osborne described Israel as a “remarkable success story”, observing that the economic collaboration between the countries is stronger than ever and that British Ambassador to Israel, Matthew Gould, had developed a “new strand in Anglo-Israeli relations”.

Mr Osborne: I went in October.  It was fantastic.  It was something I'd planned for several months with the British Ambassador to Israel, Matthew Gould who is doing a fantastic job out there representing our country and he has developed I think a new strand in Anglo-Israeli relations - as well as the security strand which we're all very familiar with and no doubt we will talk about a bit – but he has developed an economic partnership that I think is stronger than anyone, certainly that I've been aware of in my lifetime and particularly in the hi-tech sector.
So he wanted me to come out and launch this hi-tech hub.  Israel's a remarkable success story when it comes to the development of hi-tech industry and it's really a beacon to the world of how you can foster these small companies that grow into world beating businesses and often the relationship these companies have had is with American companies and what the British Government is seeking to do is strengthen relationship with British companies and British investment
So I went over there and as well as launching the hub met the finance Minister, met the Central Bank Governor who is also a remarkable man and at the same time my family came out – they had not been to Israel before – and so at the end, on the weekend after my visit, we had a fantastic family holiday as well; one day we went to Masada and the Dead Sea and Bethlehem and so on.  So it was a very very good trip.
Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, CFI Annual Business Lunch 2011, 12 December 2011

ABL 2011 2

ABL 2011   
Rt Hon George Osborne MP and Daniel Finkelstein

• Questioned about his reputation for being “very-pro Israel”, the Chancellor stated that “David Cameron, myself and other prominent members of the government, as well as the many Conservative MPs who are here, are all good friends of Israel”.
• Speaking of the UK-Israel bilateral relationship, Mr Osborne explained that the security and economic relationship had strengthened in the last 18 months of a Conservative Government.

Mr Finkelstein: So you've got a reputation as being very pro-Israel yourself.  Do you think that that reputation has come about because that's seen in contradistinction to the rest of the government?  Do you think this is actually a government that's friendly to the State of Israel or has it now taken a view on things like the occupied territories so-called, that Israel is in the wrong place and they've got to be tougher on Israel than they have been?
 
Mr Osborne: Well the British Government is absolutely consistent in believing that there should be two states, that that is a lasting solution to the problems / the security problems in the Middle East but at the same time being very clear about our friendship with Israel, the importance of that friendship and I would say actually the security relationship between our two countries on issues like Iran has actually grown under this government over the last 18 months and the economic relationship I've just been talking about is something that's been created in the last 18 months as well. So David Cameron, myself and other prominent members of the government, as well as the many Conservative MPs who are here are all good friends of Israel.
Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, CFI Annual Business Lunch 2011, 12 December 2011

• Turning to the Middle East peace process, Mr Osborne restated the Government’s belief that the “solution to the problem is one that is delivered through negotiations between both sides”.
• Discussing the obstacles to a successful peace agreement, Mr Osborne referred to security threats facing Israel.

Mr Osborne: Equally we've been clear with the Palestinians that some of their activities and the threats that they have posed, for example Hamas poses to security in Israel, of course is a major block to negotiation.
Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, CFI Annual Business Lunch 2011, 12 December 2011

ABL 2011 3
Rt Hon George Osborne MP and Daniel Finkelstein

• Before turning to economic and business issues, the Chancellor raised the issue of Iran, asserting that “Israel is right to identify this as one of the greatest threats to peace and human life in the world at the moment”.
• Expressing the need to work with Israel to stop Iran’s nuclear programme, Mr Osborne raised the UK’s recent imposition of additional economic sanctions against Iran’s banks, which he described as a “demonstration of this government's determination to use all the tools at our disposal to stop Iran getting a nuclear weapon”.

Mr Osborne: Well, first of all I think Israel is right to identify this as one of the greatest threats to peace and human life in the world at the moment.
We are very clear about what we need to do to try and stop that and we work with the Israelis and others on trying to achieve that.
I think what's clear now is that any excuse that Iran had that there was a peaceful purpose for what they were doing has been blown out of the water.  There was a report recently from the IAEA which made that clear.
The place where I get involved directly is through our financial relationship[s] with the Iranian government and the Iranian banking system and recently I authorised the imposition of new sanctions, which are stronger than any we've ever imposed before with a country, which is to cut off the British financial system with the Iranian banking system, so that was a decision I took a few weeks ago.
It was in part what led to the demonstrations you saw in Tehran which the government of Iran was clearly involved in but I think that's a demonstration of this government's determination to use all the tools at our disposal to stop Iran getting a nuclear weapon.
Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, CFI Annual Business Lunch 2011, 12 December 2011

• Prior to the Osborne-Finkelstein conservation, Conservative MPs Jessica Lee and Nadhim Zahawi provided testimonies of their trip to Israel and the Palestinian Authority with CFI in September.
• Jessica Lee MP asserted that Israel is a “true democracy in the Middle East surrounded by 22 Arab states”, adding that it is “important that parliamentarians are educated about this”.
• The MP for Erewash explained that the “main purpose of the trip is so that we as parliamentarians see for ourselves the many challenges and dynamics of life in Israel and that we return to the UK better informed as a result”.
 

ABL 2011 4
CFI Chairman Andrew Heller, Jessica Lee MP and Nadhim Zahawi MP

• Ms Lee spoke of the varied itinerary, which included meetings with schoolchildren, teachers, politicians, religious leaders, businessmen, and scientists.
• Describing a meeting with Amos Gilad, the Director of Policy of Political Military Affairs at the Israeli Ministry of Defence, Ms Lee informed the audience that he had informed the CFI delegation that the British Government under David Cameron had “brought a renewed vigour to Anglo–Israeli relations”.
• In her concluding remarks, Jessica Lee MP called on the guests in attendance to be “assured that the friendship between Israel and the Conservative Party remains strong and resilient and our parliamentarians are [an] important part of that relationship”.
• During a moving speech about his Kurdish background, Nadhim Zahawi MP spoke of the need to end genocide and his visit to the “powerful” Yad Vashem museum.

Mr Zahawi: During my visit to Israel the trip to Yad Vashem was the most powerful reminder I have ever had of the horrors of the Holocaust and the consequences of standing aside. Six million people perished in those dark years and I am passionate that all six billion people on earth should walk through Yad Vashem.
Nadhim Zahawi MP, CFI Annual Business Lunch 2011, 12 December 2011

• The Conservative MP for Stratford-On-Avon said he was “very impressed by Israel's culture of education, innovation and enterprise”.
• Mr Zahawi proceeded to address Israel’s security concerns, posed by neighbouring states and Iran’s nuclear programme.

Mr Zahawi: Let us also not forget that there is a clear and present threat that faces Israelis and Israel every day because not only is it surrounded by hostile neighbours but it is clear that Iran's nuclear ambitions will only have one purpose and we must all remember what that purpose is and why it is vital to ensure that the world acts in concert to stop this threat from occurring.
Nadhim Zahawi MP, CFI Annual Business Lunch 2011, 12 December 2011

• CFI were also delighted to hear speeches from H.E. Daniel Taub, Ambassador of Israel and Rt Hon James Arbuthnot, CFI’s Parliamentary Chairman.
 

ABL 2011 5
H.E. Ambassador Daniel Taub addresses CFI ABL 2011
 

• CFI would like to thank all those that attended the lunch and made it such a successful, enjoyable event. 
 


CFI Annual Business Lunch 2010, with David Cameron MP, the Prime Minister

“In me, you have a Prime Minister whose belief in Israel is indestructible.”

This year the Conservative Friends of Israel Annual Business Lunch took place at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel. The event was attended by over 500 Business people and 150 Conservative MPs, Peers and MEPs. Keynote speaker at this year’s lunch was, David Cameron MP, the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister received a standing ovation from the 650 strong audience when he stated that in him, Britain has a Prime Minister whose ‘belief in Israel is indestructible’.

ABL

On CFI:
“What you do in terms of taking people to see Israel for themselves is absolutely invaluable. Seeing is believing, I will never forget the impression it made on me when you see the landscape turn from desert to fertile pasture, when you see the record of that country in turning poverty into prosperity, when you see the creativity, the energy, the dynamism and yes, the democracy.”
On Solidarity with Israel:
“When biased elements in the media paint Israel’s defence of its people as unwarranted aggression, we need to make it clear: when rockets are being launched at Israeli citizens, when children are in danger, Israel is within its rights to protect its people.”
“The friendship we celebrate today has thrived in the long years of Opposition and I know in government, it will deepen, because the ties between this party and Israel are unbreakable. And in me, you have a Prime Minister whose belief in Israel is indestructible.”
On Israel’s Security:
“You also get such a strong impression of the problems of security that Israel faces. I will never forget being taken to the Lebanese border and knowing just how precarious Israel’s security is. It is an impression that has stayed with me and that I will never forget.”
On Universal Jurisdiction:
“When we see the abuse of the UK’s laws to try and detain Israeli politicians who visit these shores, we need to act: changing the law so people don’t fear coming to our country. That’s what we are doing on Universal Jurisdiction.”
On Boycotts:
“And when we see boycotts and calls for boycotts on Israel, we shouldn’t just dismiss them, we should go in completely the opposite direction: showing the world that we are proud to do business with Israel.”
On Iran:
“Take Iran. All the evidence points in the same direction: that country’s leadership is intent on developing a nuclear weapons capability. There are no ifs, buts, maybes, I’ve read the reports, I have had the briefings: they are stockpiling enough uranium to make a nuclear weapon over time. Of course, that’s a huge threat to the world but it’s a particular threat to Israel. We support tough engagement with Iran, but it is time to ratchet up the pressure. And time is, frankly, short.
“That’s why since we came into power we have wasted no time in securing tougher sanctions. We backed tough sanctions in the United Nations  – and we championed and led, at meeting after meeting, even tougher sanctions at the European level. Iran needs to know if they continue on this course they will feel international pressure and international isolation.”
On Threats to Israel:
“I know, and you know, that one of its biggest threats comes from those directly on its borders. Hezbollah, Hamas – terrorist organisations that are determined to use violence against Israel.  We must confront their ideology – and help Israel achieve the security she deserves.”
On Honesty with Israel:
“But here’s something I passionately believe – as a true friend. That security won’t come through fighting a grinding war of attrition. It will only come through peace. And that real peace will only come through a two-state solution. Two states living side by side, in peace – there is I believe, no other realistic option.
“The obligations are clear – on both sides. For Palestinians: Take the path of a negotiated peace. Show you are serious. Show your commitment to defeating terror. For Israel there are clear responsibilities too... above all, there is the need for an end to the expansion of settlements.
“...The alternative to compromise is that the moderates will always lose out. Every time concessions are refused, every time the peace process fails, the extremists win and several steps are taken backwards. As a friend of Israel, there is nothing I want more than that country to live in peace, in security – and in harmony with her neighbours.”
On Learning from Israel’s...
Economy
“Israel has more start-ups per capita than any other country. It attracts as much venture capital as France and Germany combined. Its economy grew by 4 per cent last year. And that hasn’t happened by chance. It’s happened by design – a strategic seizing of opportunity by the Israeli government.  Public spending – controlled, taxes – cut, innovation and science – invested in, free trade agreements – signed. One by one, they have ticked off the list of what modern, dynamic enterprise economies need.”
Community Spirit:
“But there is one final thing we can learn from Israel and that is about community spirit. It’s a country where they don’t always say ‘there’s a problem – so what can the government do about it’ – they say ‘what can I do about it, what can my community do about it?’ Just look at the Israeli police force. The professional officers on the payroll are far-outnumbered by 70,000 police volunteers who give up their time for free.  That’s the Big Society spirit that we want to build here in Britain.”
National Pride:
“Another lesson from Israel is its national pride. Whether you’re talking to an Israeli who is left-wing or right-wing, young or old, you get an unashamed patriotism – a sense that country matters. If we are honest that’s something we need more of in Britain today and if you look at so much of what this government has done so far, there is a thread of national pride running through it.”
David Cameron MP, The Prime Minister, CFI Annual Business Lunch, 13 December 2010

To read the speech in full click here

ABL3 

ABL2ABL4

  

CFI at Conservative Party Conference

The CFI exhibition stand was a hive of activity all week, with hundreds of Conservative delegates from across the party visiting and over 100 new members signed up.

On Monday 4th October, CFI held a private lunch for 50 MPs, and a wealth of MEPs, Lords and key party officials. Guests were addressed by Alistair Burt MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Minister for the Middle East and South Asia, H.E. Ron Prosor, Ambassador of Israel and Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP, Chairman of CFI’s Parliamentary Group.

The following day, CFI hosted its Annual Delegates Reception, with in excess of 400 in attendance to witness speeches from Foreign Secretary William Hague MP, Alistair Burt MP, H.E. Ambassador Prosor, James Arbuthnot MP and Andrew Heller, CFI’s Executive Board Chairman.

CFI is especially delighted to announce that our Free Gilad Shalit campaign which was launched at this year’s Conference was signed by as many as 1,000 people in just three days.  The petition was presented to Foreign Secretary Hague during the Delegates Reception.

CFI’s Director, Stuart Polak, welcomed this achievement, stating that the number of Conservative Ministers, MPs, Councillors and activists which had signed it, “demonstrates better than anything the widespread support for the plight of Gilad Shalit and the understanding of Israel’s case across all levels of the Conservative Party”.

“I have given a lot of my attention to the matter of the Iranian nuclear programme in the opening months of our government and we have secured a number of things that we called for, for a long time in opposition. UN Security Council resolution 1929 passed in early June, which rather surprised the Iranians by having the united support of Russia and China for a sanctions resolution.
We put a lot of energy with France and Germany into agreeing at the end of July strong additional European Union sanctions on Iran which will begin to bite over the coming months and we have encouraged other countries like Japan and Korea and Australia to take their own unilateral sanctions measures on the Iranian nuclear programme.    Foreign Secretary, William Hague MP, 5 October 2010
“We have had good discussions with Israeli ministers…on universal jurisdiction where the last government left us with an appalling situation where a politician like Mrs Livni could be threatened with arrest on coming to the UK. And I was genuinely surprised that despite David Miliband saying in December that this was an urgent issue, that the Labour Government did nothing about it all the way to the General Election.
We have agreed in the coalition about putting it right, we will put it right through legislation that will be introduced, Ken Clarke the Justice Secretary will bring into the House of Commons adding to legislation going through the House of Commons later this year and I phoned Mrs Livni amongst others to tell her about that and received a very warm welcome for our proposals”.        Foreign Secretary, William Hague MP, 5 October 2010
“I see the petition which is being moved here and the expressions of concern that people have. And it is one of the most glaring of examples of injustice and inequity that runs through the Middle East.
It is one of the simplest but one of the most important gestures that could be made in this whole process by Hamas, to be able to release Gilad Shalit and to say the time has come to move on”.        Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Minister for the Middle East and South Asia, Alistair Burt MP, 4 October 2010

  

CFI

 

CFI  CFI

 

CFI  CFI

 

CFI  CFI