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Theresa May rejects Jeremy Corbyn’s call for probe into Israeli influence in UK politics

A government spokesman said Britain’s relationship with Israel remained “strong” and there would be no further action following Al Jazeera series

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Theresa May has rejected Jeremy Corbyn’s call for an investigation into Israeli officials in the UK.

A government spokesman said Britain’s relationship with Israel remained “strong” and there would be no further action over what Mr Corbyn had called “improper interference in this country’s democratic process”.

In a letter to Mrs May last week, the Labour leader had urged her to launch an inquiry following the revelations in an Al Jazeera series about alleged Israeli lobbying.

Shai Masot, an Israeli embassy employee, was secretly filmed discussing his intention to “take down” British MPs, including Sir Alan Duncan, the Foreign Office Minister.

Mark Regev, Israel’s ambassador in London, apologised and described Mr Masot’s comments as “completely unacceptable”.

But the footage led to a major row between pro-Israel groups and diplomats over how an undercover reporter was able to infiltrate private meetings.

Mr Corbyn had claimed the episode constituted “a national security issue”.

“It is only on [the basis of an investigation] that Parliament and the public will be reassured that such activities will not be tolerated by your government," he wrote to Mrs May.

But a government spokesman told the JC today: “The Israeli Ambassador has apologised and is clear these comments do not reflect the views of the Embassy or Government of Israel.

“The UK has a strong relationship with Israel and we consider the matter closed.”

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