Latest news with #TzipiHotovely
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Starmer will have to U-turn as 'real prime minister' Angela Rayner backs recognition of a Palestinian state, say MPs
Sir Keir Starmer will be forced to bow to pressure from 'the real Prime Minister' Angela Rayner and agree to recognise Palestinian statehood within weeks, Labour MPs claimed last night. They predicted Sir Keir would have no choice but to make the historic move by autumn now that his deputy has thrown her weight behind the plan. One MP told The Mail on Sunday: 'In response to Israel 's murderous actions in Gaza, it's Rayner – not Starmer – who's acting like the real PM. 'There's no way Keir can hold the line on this. Angela speaks for Labour MPs and members on this.' The claims come amid a mounting humanitarian disaster in Gaza, with UN agencies warning of the territory running out of specialised food to save severely malnourished children. But yesterday, the Prime Minister made clear he was sticking to his policy of insisting that recognising Palestine statehood must come as part of a wider 'pathway to peace' in the region. In a social media post after speaking to French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz, Sir Keir turned his attention to getting food aid into Gaza. The Prime Minister said: 'Israel must allow aid in over land to end the starvation unfolding in Gaza. The situation is desperate.' Last night, Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely told the Telegraph that recognising a Palestinian state would 'reward' the terrorists behind the October 7 atrocities. The statehood row erupted on the eve of Donald Trump's four-day visit to the UK – sparking concern that it could overshadow discussions tomorrow between him and Sir Keir over a trade deal. Mr Trump, who arrived in Scotland on Friday, has made clear his disapproval of Mr Macron's declaration on X last week that France will recognise Palestinian statehood in September, telling reporters at the White House: 'What [Mr Macron] says doesn't matter. He's a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight.' The row in the UK escalated yesterday amid reports that Ms Rayner was '100 per cent' behind other Cabinet ministers who wanted Sir Keir to follow the French president's lead. Her intervention came hot on the heels of the revelation that more than 130 Labour MPs – almost a third of the parliamentary party – wanted 'immediate recognition'. Last night, one Labour MP said the combination of Ms Rayner's intervention and the views of so many of his MPs would force Sir Keir's hand. But he added that her move regarding Gaza is only the latest sign of how powerful the Deputy PM is becoming. He said: 'Her importance in keeping Starmer's Government going is only matched by her clear ambitions to replace him. 'Everybody knows what Angie is doing. She is sending a clear message that she is ready when the time comes.' Last week, the Deputy PM presented the findings of a year-long study commissioned in the wake of riots after the Southport stabbings last year, warning of the risks illegal immigration now poses to social cohesion in Britain's poorest communities. She warned follow Cabinet ministers to 'acknowledge the real concerns people have' about immigration and economic insecurity. Ms Rayner also won favour with many Labour backbenchers earlier this year when it emerged she had suggested raising taxes by up to £4 billion a year ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves's Spring Statement in March. However, allies of the Deputy PM pointed to her insistence two months ago that she had no desire to replace Sir Keir. 'I do not want to run for leader of the Labour Party. I rule it out,' she told Laura Kuenssberg in May.
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Recognising Palestine would reward Oct 7 murderers, Starmer told
Sir Keir Starmer will 'reward' the Oct 7 terrorists if he recognises a Palestinian state, Israel's ambassador to the UK has said. Tzipi Hotovely has described proposals for recognising a Palestine state as 'nothing less than a reward for terrorism'. The ambassador, writing for The Telegraph, said that 'Palestinian recognition would be a reward for hostage-taking, for rape, for murder, for burning innocent people alive'. Ms Hotovely added that recognition would also be a 'significant departure from the policy of the US administration ', risking a damaging rift with the White House. She said: 'Terrorists are watching intently and the signal that they are receiving is that their violent tactics yield positive results for them in the UK and the West.' Her intervention came as Jewish faith leaders in Britain told the Prime Minister that recognition 'cannot improve the situation' and would be 'gesture politics'. Jewish faith leaders at the Board of Deputies, Britain's largest Jewish community organisation, have also told Sir Keir not to recognise a Palestinian state. Phil Rosenberg, the board's president, said that Hamas 'will claim recognition of Palestine as a vindication of their murderous rampages and hostage-taking'. Mr Rosenberg, writing for The Telegraph, said 'unilateral recognition cannot be a substitute for the difficult negotiations and concessions needed to realise an enduring peace'. Sir Keir has come under increasing pressure from his own party to recognise a Palestinian state. This week, 131 Labour MPs penned a letter urging their leader to follow Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and announce a plan to recognise a state. Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and Anas Sarwar, the leader of Scottish Labour, have also told the Prime Minister to act immediately. The Labour-led foreign affairs committee also recommended immediate recognition this week, describing it as 'inalienable right'. Cabinet ministers have also reportedly urged the Prime Minister to act on the issue. The setting up of a new Left-wing party under Jeremy Corbyn, pledging to support 'a free and independent Palestine', is also likely to put electoral pressure on Sir Keir. On Saturday, the Prime Minister rejected calls from his party and Mr Macron to recognise a Palestinian state within the next few months. He said that while he was 'unequivocal' about recognising a Palestinian state as part of a peace process, this should come after a ceasefire and the return of Israeli hostages. Sir Keir said recognition 'must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis'. The issue is set to dominate Donald Trump's four-day visit to the UK, with Sir Keir due to meet the US president at the latter's Turnberry golf course in Scotland on Monday. He is attempting to finalise a UK-US trade deal with Mr Trump, the general terms of which were set out in May. There are fears within the Government that a disagreement with the president over Palestine recognition, which Mr Trump opposes, could derail the trade deal. Ms Hotovely described recognition as 'an act of grandstanding and virtue-signalling' and accused Mr Macron of 'Napoleonic cosplaying'. She claimed that after any recognition by Western powers, 'a Palestinian state would have all the ingredients of a would-be failed state'.
Telegraph
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
BBC to hire £200k boss to deal with Gaza documentary backlash
The BBC is to take on another manager with a potential six-figure salary to help deal with the backlash against its coverage of Israel. The corporation is seeking to guard against future reputational damage after being accused by the government of 'catastrophic failures' following the broadcast of Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. The documentary was pulled when it emerged that its main narrator, a boy named Abdullah, was the son of Ayman Alyazouri, the Hamas-run government's deputy minister of agriculture – a fact not disclosed to viewers. A review of the broadcast found it broke editorial guidelines, and set out a series of measures to get a grip on coverage of the highly-sensitive Israel-Hamas conflict. One of these measures is hiring a new director with 'editorial oversight across our portfolio of documentaries and current affairs journalism'. The successful applicant will sit on the news board, made up of powerful figures at the BBC who typically earn more than £200,000. Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador to the UK, recently expressed a total lack of confidence in Ms Turness after the BBC executive spoke to staff about Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. Ms Turness said the Hamas official at the centre of the scandal over the documentary, Mr Alyazouri, was part of the Hamas government and not the military, and that a distinction should be made. The UK government makes no such distinction, and both the civil and military wings are designated as part of a 'single terrorist organisation'. It is hoped the new high-powered executive will help BBC News in 'upholding robust editorial compliance' following the Gaza documentary scandal. The new director will be charged with restructuring how the BBC handles documentary-making, including 'rigorous social media and background checks' on those contributing to programmes. Programmes deemed to be high-risk will also be directly overseen by a dedicated senior executive producer to 'improve lines of accountability'. Some sources have suggested that there are perhaps 'too many cooks' when it comes to programme-making at the BBC, and it can become unclear who is responsible for what. Other reforms being brought in following the documentary scandal will include a stipulation that translation of the word 'Yehudi' be rendered literally as 'Jews'. Some campaigners have taken issue with the BBC translating the term as the more political 'Israelis', without the implication that 'Jews' are the target of criticism. Tim Davie, the BBC director-general, has moved to reassure Jewish members of staff who are concerned about the broadcaster's culture and leadership following a series of incidents, including broadcasting a Glastonbury set which included chants of 'death to the IDF'. The BBC's leadership is planning to offer expanded anti-Semitism training in the wake of these damaging scandals. New modules addressing the issue of anti-Jewish sentiment are being devised by HR specialists, insiders have said. And anagers may be offered further specialist training in order to help with decision-making relating to sensitive subjects. A BBC spokesman said: 'We are deeply alert to the threat of anti-Semitism, which is why we have plans to roll out new mandatory anti-Semitism training to all staff across the BBC soon.'
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Israel's ambassador to Britain says she has ‘no confidence' in BBC's head of news following Hamas remarks
ISRAEL'S ambassador to Britain says she has 'no confidence' in the BBC's head of news following controversial remarks about Hamas. Tzipi Hotovely slammed Corporation executive Deborah Turness for insisting there is a difference between Hamas' political leadership and its military wing. 2 Ms Turness sparked a row this week when she told an all-staff call on the BBC's Gaza documentary scandal that 'we need to continually remind people of the difference'. It is despite the British government saying any distinction is 'artificial' and Hamas is a 'single terrorist organisation'. In a letter to BBC boss Tim Davie, Ms Hotovely said: 'This is an utterly outrageous position to take… it shows a shocking lack of understanding about the nature of Hamas by the head of BBC News.' She added: 'I have absolutely no confidence in Mrs Turness's ability to deal with this issue sufficiently and believe that a fundamental change is required in the approach of the BBC to address this systemic issue properly.' A BBC spokesman said earlier this week that Ms Turness was not implying that Hamas was a single terrorist organisation. They added: 'The BBC constantly makes clear on our programmes and platforms that Hamas are a proscribed terrorist organisation by the UK Government and others. 'We are also clear that we need to describe to our audiences the complexities of life in Gaza, including within the structure of Hamas, which has run the civilian functions of Gaza.' 2
The National
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Lisa Nandy aide 'drafted note saying BBC is institutionally antisemitic'
Nandy is due to meet with Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely at an unconfirmed date and was advised by a policy officer to make the claim against the BBC. But a source at the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport told The National that this was dropped and the Culture Secretary would not brand the BBC 'antisemitic' at her meeting with the ambassador. They said: 'It was an initial draft.' READ MORE: How the UK media are covering up British spy flights for Israel It comes after independent journalist Matt Kennard revealed that briefing notes for the meeting had also advised the Culture Secretary to tell Hotovely that 'one mistake is an editing error but if you have multiple mistakes you need to look at the leadership'. The BBC found itself under fire from the upper echelons of the UK Government after broadcasting punk band Bob Vylan (below) leading at chant at Glastonbury which called for 'death to the [Israeli Defence Forces]'. (Image: Yui Mok) Kennard also reported that Nandy was also advised to tell the Israeli ambassador that 'Glastonbury continues to host acts with vile and inflammatory views' and more investigation was needed. The Bob Vylan chant was denounced as 'antisemitic' by Nandy, who last week told MPs: 'There is a clear difference between speaking out for Palestine, which is the right of everybody in this house and everybody in our country, and antisemitism, which is not and never will be. 'When the rights and safety of people and communities are at risk and when our national broadcaster fails to uphold its own standards, we will intervene.' READ MORE: Tony Blair's staff took part in 'Gaza Riviera' project, reports say She has discussed the matter with BBC director-general Tim Davie and demanded an explanation as to why the segment was broadcast. Nandy said last week: 'When you have one editorial failure, it's something that must be gripped. When you have several, it becomes a problem of leadership.' Bob Vylan's comments were reported to the police, with Avon and Somerset Police confirming footage would be "assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed". The band had their US visas revoked ahead of a tour of the country and the BBC later announced it would no longer broadcast "high risk" live performances.
