Portrait of Theresa May
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Theresa May on Israel

Strong supporter of Israel (strong)

TL;DR

Theresa May consistently expressed strong support for Israel's security, its right to exist, and the UK's role in its creation.

Key Points

  • She stated on October 10, 2023, that Hamas perpetrated a barbaric, unprovoked attack against Israeli civilians, which she condemned unequivocally.

  • As Prime Minister, she publicly celebrated the Centenary of the Balfour Declaration in November 2017, affirming support for the UK's role in Israel's creation.

  • In 2018, she told the Israeli Prime Minister she was “concerned” about the killing of Palestinian protesters in Gaza while reiterating Israel's right to self-defence.

Summary

Theresa May consistently expressed strong support for Israel, framing the relationship as that of two democracies sharing core values. As Prime Minister, she celebrated the centenary of the Balfour Declaration in 2017, proclaiming that Britain was proud of its “pioneering role in the creation of the State of Israel” and attacking the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement as unacceptable. She emphasized a commitment to deepening the bilateral relationship across various sectors, including seeking an ambitious free trade deal post-Brexit, and underlined her commitment to Israel’s security, affirming its right to defend itself.

While maintaining this robust support, she balanced her position by reiterating the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution, calling for an end to the building of new settlements, and expressing “grave concerns” over the construction of illegal settlements. She also raised concern over the loss of Palestinian lives during clashes along the Gaza border, urging a de-escalation. Furthermore, the former Prime Minister has been vocal in her condemnation of antisemitism, adopting the IHRA definition and explicitly stating that criticism of Israeli government actions cannot be used to question Israel's right to exist.

Key Quotes

We disagree with the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital before a final status agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Theresa May's overall stance has been one of strong support, particularly regarding Israel's security and its right to exist as the homeland for the Jewish people. She expressed pride in the UK's historical role in the country's founding.

Yes, as Prime Minister, she repeatedly made clear to the Israeli leadership that illegal West Bank settlements are an obstacle to peace. She insisted that progress towards a two-state solution required an end to their building.

She disagreed with the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem before a final status agreement, stating it was unhelpful for peace prospects. She confirmed the British Embassy would remain in Tel Aviv.

Sources6

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.