I am saddened that Britain and Israel have found themselves at cross purposes this week.  This was not an argument that Britain chose. 

But as I said in Parliament, no country could have stood by once it had discovered another country - especially a friend - misusing its passports. 

By doing so, Israel disrespected Britain's sovereignty and put British nationals at risk. 

I am struck by the fact that all those whose passports were misused were British Jews living in Israel. 

I know the anxiety this has caused to the many British Jews in Israel, to their families in the UK, and to the hundreds of thousands of British Jews who travel to Israel.

Israel has a right to security. Britain will not compromise in its support for Israel's security, or in its defence of Israel's legitimacy. 

But the abuse of British passports contributed to neither, and must stop.