LFI’s new chair visits Israel and also Bahrain in historic first for group - The Jewish Chronicle

Newly appointed Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) chair Mark Sewards has made his debut trip to the Middle East in his new position, including a trip to Bahrain in the first visit to the kingdom by the group.

The Labour MP has since spoken of his hopes for a two-state solution and the possibility of greater “regional integration”.

In Israel, he met with president Isaac Herzog, and raised the importance of UK-Israel relations and the dangers of the global rise in antisemitism.

Israel's president Isaac Herzog (right) with LFI chair Mark Sewards. (Image: LFI).[Missing Credit]

Sewards also met with a diverse range of Israeli politicians including leader of the Democrats, Yair Golan; Yesh Atid MK, Shelly Meron; as well as Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel. In discussions with Yair Golan and Shelly Meron, he praised the critical efforts being undertaken by Israel’s centre-left parties to safeguard Israel’s liberal democratic identity.

The MP for Leeds South West and Morley also met with Palestinian activist Samer Sinijlawi and the pair discussed efforts to reform the Palestinian Authority and the work of grassroots civil society organisations fighting extremism.

Sewards also underscored LFI’s commitment to peacebuilding initiatives, noting its longstanding support for the creation of the International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, modelled on peacebuilding efforts in Northern Ireland, set to convene this March in London.

The Labour MP made a trip to the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), the body established by US President Donald Trump, tasked with maintaining the delicate ceasefire in Gaza.

Based in Kiryat Gat, and home to American and Israeli military personnel, he learned about the recent recovery of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili’s remains from Gaza and learned about the operations – including aid delivery and monitoring the ceasefire itself.

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After the visit to Israel, Sewards and LFI made a historic first trip to Bahrain, where he met with government leaders, parliamentarians and diplomats and “discussed the transformative potential of the Abraham Accords and the role of regional states in advancing the ceasefire in Gaza”.

LFI’s chair also met with former Bahraini ambassador to the United States Houda Nonoo, who is Jewish, and a founding board member of the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities – an umbrella group for Jewish communities across Gulf countries.

Reflecting on his visit, Sewards said: “After two years of bloodshed and tragedy for Israelis and Palestinians, it’s never been more critical for the UK to deepen its engagement with longstanding regional allies and partners in the pursuit of peace and prosperity. I was pleased to visit the Middle East to meet with Israelis, Palestinians, and Bahrainis to explore ways Britain can help build upon the renewed hope provided by the ceasefire in Gaza to advance a two-state solution and expand Israel’s regional integration.”

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Topics:

Labour Friends of Israel

Abraham Accords

Bahrain