In recent news, the Scottish foreign secretary has made headlines for suspending all meetings with Israeli officials until there is “real progress” towards peace in Gaza. This decision came after criticism of a secret meeting between Scottish External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson and an Israeli diplomat. Robertson clarified that the meeting did not indicate a normalization of relations between the two governments and was an opportunity for Scotland to express its position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Following the backlash from the Scottish National Party, who labeled him as “a liability,” Robertson stated that any future meetings would only happen after significant progress towards peace. The secrecy of the initial meeting also raised concerns, as it was only revealed after a social media post by the Israeli diplomat.
Both the Scottish and UK governments have been vocal about calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently visiting the region. The story has sparked debates and discussions about foreign relations and peace efforts in the Middle East.