Revealed: UK-Israel relations ‘non-existent’ since war start

The chill marks a stark change from the 12-Day War against Iran last year, when Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Benjamin Netanyahu hours after Israel launched strikes against the Islamic Republic.

But the JC understands that no UK minister has engaged with Israel since the Iran strikes began.

By contrast, France’s Emmanuel Macron spoke to Netanyahu on Monday about the situation in the Middle East.

Speaking to the JC, a former Labour minister revealed “relations at a ministerial level are non-existent and have been for a while.

“The government’s hostility to Israel has made us completely irrelevant, not just during this conflict but long before. We have no relationships and no influence.”

An Israel source echoed the claim that high-level bilateral relations had become “non-existent”, adding that the UK was now “irrelevant” in negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on December 9, 2024 (Photo by MAYA ALLERUZZO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Another Labour source voiced deep concern, telling the JC: “Ministers rightly talk to all kinds of governments who are not to its political taste because they understand that without engagement, there’s no hope of influence.

“It is disappointing that this approach is not being adopted with Israel. If Britain can talk to terror-supporting autocracies like Qatar and aspiring despots like Erdogan, there’s no reason why we can’t talk to Israel, the UK’s only democratic ally in the region.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the government for allowing relations with Jerusalem to fall to such a low ebb, suggesting it was undermining Britain.

She told the JC: “It is in the UK’s national interest to be talking to Israel given how crucial the relationship is from a security and intelligence standpoint.”

The leader of the opposition added: “As Business and Trade Secretary, I advanced talks on a trade deal with Israel, because I understand the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and trade in building a strong partnership between allies and advancing Britain’s national interest.

“Keir Starmer cancelled the trade talks, put Israel under a trade embargo and has now ostracised them, just to appease his backbenchers.”

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice launched a withering tirade against the government over the diplomatic silence.

The MP and vocal Israel ally said: “The PM has humiliated the UK on the international stage; he and Labour are an embarrassment.”

Relations between London and Jerusalem plummeted after the UK government recognised the state of Palestine unilaterally last September –while Hamas still held Israeli hostages in Gaza.

Starmer had last spoken to Netanyahu in July 2025 to raise concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the upcoming recognition.

There has been no official communication between the two prime ministers since then.

The diplomatic freeze with Israel comes amid wider tensions between London and Washington.

Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with Britain after Starmer refused a US request to use UK bases for initial offensive strikes against Iran. Trump said he was “not happy with the UK”.

The silence between London and Jerusalem comes in the second week of a war in which Israel has been repeatedly subjected to Iranian missile attacks on civilian areas, including the use of cluster bombs, in breach of international law.

But critics of the government say the UK’s diplomatic approach also runs against Britain’s own security and economic interests in the region, which have come directly under attack.

The Islamic Republic has launched attacks against almost every state in the Gulf since last week, and crucial shipping lanes closed because of the danger to merchant vessels and oil tankers.

Israel has been a key strategic security ally for the UK for many years, with a relationship centred on counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and cyber security.

The government suspended 30 arms licences to the Jewish state early in its term in September 2024, citing a “clear risk” that the equipment could be used to commit or facilitate violations of international law in Gaza.

Despite the Gaza ceasefire, trade minister Chris Bryant confirmed in January this year that where those suspensions had expired, the UK had “continued to refuse licence applications on the same basis.”

Former defence minister Tom Tugendhat said he was unsurprised by the current lack of contact and would expect Netanyahu to be “focused on regional players and those who are involved in combat”.

Jewish leaders in Britain have voiced concern over the deterioration in relations with Israel.

Russell Langer, director of public affairs at the Jewish Leadership Council, said: “The rapid decline in UK-Israel relations has been extremely concerning to witness. Decisions which might be popular with backbenchers, such as the recognition of a Palestinian state, have clearly only diminished our voice in the region. The UK’s calls for de-escalation can’t mean much if we are unable to even speak to the Israelis at a time like this.”

During the 12-Day War between Israel and Iran last June, Starmer spoke to Netanyahu the same day that Israel launched its first strikes on Iran.

Then foreign secretary, David Lammy, spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar within 72 hours after the start of that escalation.

In October 2023 when Hamas invaded Israel, Rishi Sunak spoke to Netanyahu on October 12, and in the days after the onslaught, then foreign secretary James Cleverly visited southern Israel, meeting Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.

A government spokesperson refused to comment directly on the communication between the prime minister and Netanyahu, and said: “As we’ve been clear throughout, the UK continues to engage with its partners across the region at a range of levels, and that engagement is ongoing.

“We regularly engage with the Israeli government at all levels on a range of issues.”