Israeli leaked files revealed a covert campaign to prevent Britain from boycotting trade with Israel, focusing on combating the BDS movement. A high-level meeting was held with Conservative politician Michael Gove in 2015, discussing strategies to counter boycott efforts. The leaked documents originated from a hack of the Israeli Ministry of Justice, further exposing lobbying tactics and attempts to defund British charities. Israel’s justice minister, Ayelet Shaked, sought support from Gove to prevent goods produced on occupied Palestinian land from being labeled as originating from Israeli settlements. Concerns were also raised about UK funding for NGOs promoting anti-Israel agendas. In 2019, legal advice was sought to mitigate the impact of a UN database identifying companies involved in illegal Israeli settlements, including UK-based firms. Despite international condemnation of Israeli settlements, the UK government has opposed the UN database. The involvement of lobby groups like Conservative Friends of Israel in shaping UK policy has raised concerns about prioritizing political interests over human rights. The Conservative Party has not commented on the matter, and Israel’s embassy and justice ministry have yet to respond to inquiries.
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Israel covertly fights UK boycotts.
