Trade with Israel is “absolutely fundamental” to the UK as the nation embarks on Brexit, according to the Secretary for International Development.

Priti Patel told a Conservative Friends of Israel reception that Brexit presented a golden opportunity to boost trade between the two countries, insisting: “There is a lot more we can do.”

In an unashamedly pro-Brexit message, Ms Patel, herself a former vice-chairman of CFI, said:” As Britain embarks on our new chapter when it comes to leaving the EU, being in control of our laws, and our decision making, having great allies like Israel is absolutely fundamental.

“When it comes to great friendships and when it comes to looking at the great trading relationship we already have - that trading relationship can only go from strength to strength.

“When you think about the financial footprints of our country, financial trade is worth over £5 billion - and has doubled over past decade.”

“Don’t tell me there isn’t more we can do, there’s a lot more we can do. We can do that because of the amazing relationship of our two countries.”

Ms Patel made her optimistic speech at the reception at the Palace of Westminster only hours after the Supreme Court had ruled that MPs could vote on the triggering of Article 50 which will start the Brexit process.

Her comments on Israel echoed remarks made by the Prime Minister Theresa May at a CFI lunch in London last December.

Then the PM praised the economic ties between the countries, urging greater cooperation on healthcare, cyber security and counter-terrorism efforts.

Speaking on Tuesday night Ms Patel also stressed her department’s role in freezing millions in aid payments to the Palestinian Authority which were ending up in the hands of terrorists.

Ms Patel said “My department has an important role to play when it comes to Israel — and it will play its part by investing in the right things, for the right people — but also in initiatives which can bring people together. These will include co-existence programmes. But I am also rooting out abuse in the system to ensure that that money is spent in the right way. I will be assiduous in ensuring that we follow the money to our transparency – and follow the outcome as well, because that is what we should be doing with British taxpayers’ money.”

Mark Regev, the Israeli ambassador to the UK, paid tribute to Ms Patel’s attempts to stop money from British taxes funding Palestinian terror.  

Mr Regev told the packed reception: ”A lot of money has been claimed as going to help needy people — and money hasn’t necessarily always gone to needy people. On the contrary: we’ve had in the past examples of money that’s supposed to go to needy people that’s ended up going to other things, whether to support a maximalist extreme political agenda, to support hate speech or terrorism. I want to commend the Secretary of State, who under her watch has instituted new guidelines which will ensure that money which is supposed to help needy people really reaches needy people”.

Asked about the Israeli Embassy’s response to the recent Al Jazeera documentary, The Lobby, in which a junior aide was filmed by an undercover reporter, Mr Regev told the JC: ”Steps have been taken.