UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has criticised Tory leader Kemi Badenoch after she appeared to defend Israel’s decision to detain and deport two British Labour lawmakers.
Israel had on Saturday deported two British Labour Members of Parliament (MPs), Yuan Yang, MP for Earley and Woodley, and Abtisam Mohamed, MP for Sheffield Central, after they were detained at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, according to The Guardian.
According to Israeli immigration officials, the MPs were denied entry on suspicion that they intended to “document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred”.
However, both Yang and Mohamed said they were part of a UK parliamentary delegation aiming to visit humanitarian aid projects and communities in the occupied West Bank alongside British charity partners
Reacting in a joint statement, the two MPs said they were “astounded” by the decision, adding that it is “vital” for parliamentarians to be able to “witness first-hand” the situation on the ground in Palestine.
Lammy echoed this concern, calling Israel’s action “unacceptable, counterproductive and deeply concerning”.
“This is no way to treat British parliamentarians,” Lammy said.
However, Badenoch took a different stance. Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, the Tory leader said she was “not surprised” the Labour MPs were barred from entering Israel, arguing that nations have the right to control their borders.
“What I think is shocking is that we have MPs in Labour who other countries will not allow through. That’s very significant,” she said.
Badenoch suggested that Israel’s decision was based on concerns that the MPs would not comply with local laws.
She said, “MPs do not have diplomatic immunity. I believe the people who represent us in Parliament should be able to go anywhere in the world, and others should not be worried about what they’re going to do when they arrive.”
Asked whether she agreed with Israel’s concerns about potential law-breaking by the MPs, she responded, “That’s the reason they gave, and every country should be able to control its borders. We do the same.”
Her comments infuriated the UK foreign secretary, who took to social media to express his anger, accusing her of backing a foreign government’s move against British parliamentarians.
“Kemi Badenoch, it’s disgraceful you are cheerleading another country for detaining and deporting two British MPs,” Lammy wrote on X.
“Do you say the same about Tory MPs banned from China? This government will continue to stand up for the rights of our MPs to speak their mind, whatever their party,” he added.
Lammy confirmed that the Foreign Office had raised the issue directly with Israeli counterparts, offering support to the MPs and reiterating the UK’s commitment to press for a ceasefire and renewed negotiations in Gaza.
UK Foreign Secretary Slams Badenoch For ‘Defending’ Israel is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
