TL;DR
Liz Truss strongly identifies as a Zionist and has advocated for closer UK-Israel ties, including potentially moving the UK embassy to Jerusalem.
Key Points
As Prime Minister, she informed her Israeli counterpart that she was beginning a review into moving the British embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
When serving as Foreign Secretary, she voted against UN resolutions concerning Israeli settlements and the right of Palestinians to self-determination.
She strongly condemned post-October 7 pro-Palestine demonstrations in the UK during a December 2023 interview, claiming people were being “allowed” to march “in favour of terrorists.”
Summary
Liz Truss has expressed a staunchly pro-Israel stance, publicly describing herself as a “huge Zionist” and a “huge supporter of Israel” while serving as Prime Minister. This position was emphasized during an event with Conservative Friends of Israel, where she stated a desire to advance the UK-Israel relationship. Her government, when she was in office, signalled a review of relocating the British embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a policy move previously undertaken by a former US president which drew considerable criticism from Palestinian representatives as a violation of international law and harmful to the two-state solution.
Her record as Foreign Secretary also indicated a clear leaning, as she voted against UNHRC resolutions supporting the right of Palestinians to self-determination and Israeli settlements, while abstaining on others concerning human rights accountability. These actions, coupled with her stated alignment with Israel as a key ally against “authoritarian regimes,” caused significant alarm among Palestinian advocacy groups, who condemned the perceived alignment as ignoring international consensus and Palestinian rights. Following the October 7 attacks, she also harshly criticised pro-Palestine protests in the UK, linking them to “terrorists” and the “woke left.”
Key Quotes
“There is just one capital of the UK, and that is London,” she said. “There is just one capital of Israel, Jerusalem.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Liz Truss's general position is overwhelmingly supportive of Israel, which she has publicly stated is the UK's 'closest friend and ally'. Her commentary and past policy intentions have focused on strengthening ties with Israel, which has drawn criticism from Palestinian advocacy groups.
Yes, Liz Truss indicated during her campaign and early in her premiership that she would review the relocation of the British embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This idea was welcomed by the Israeli government but condemned by Palestinian representatives as illegal.
Liz Truss has been highly critical of pro-Palestine demonstrations in the UK, claiming in late 2023 that people were being permitted to demonstrate “in favour of terrorists.” She linked these protests to broader anti-Western sentiment from the “woke left”.
Sources5
'As You Know I Am a Huge Zionist': Liz Truss Declares (VIDEO)
Pro-Palestinians being ‘allowed to march in favour of terrorists’, Liz Truss claims
Palestine slams Liz Truss' 'review' of Israel embassy site
Palestinians are not sorry to see the back of Liz Truss
Jerusalem
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.