World Jewish News

Netanyahu ends his visit in London by meeting Jewish community leaders

Winding up his visit in London, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Sunday with leaders of the Jewish community.

“Our community is a strong community, only one-half of one percent of the British population, but we carry a degree of confidence in ourselves and in Israel,” Jonathan Arkush, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told Netanyahu.

‘’Every single one of us round this table is working totally for the good of the Jewish community and for the State of Israel,.” He added.

Netanyahu arrived in London on Wednesday to attend events celebrating 100 years since the Balfour Declaration which opened the way for the establishment of the State of Israel. .

He also held diplomatic and economic meetings during his visit, including bilateral talks with Theresa May.

Accompanied by his wife, Sara Netanyahu, Culture Minister Miri Regev, and Israel’s Ambassador to the UK Mark Regev, Netanyahu also met with British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis who declared that he always emphasizes that attacking Zionism is, in effect, attacking Jews, and noted that he fights this phenomenon.

Netanyahu praised British Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech during which Theresa May said she would “absolutely not” apologize for the Balfour Declaration.

“As I said at this extraordinary dinner, in which I thought Theresa May gave a tremendous speech, I think that our histories are intertwined, the history of Britain and Israel, and the Jewish community, from Chaim Weizmann and others, has been intertwined in the history of Zionism,” Netanyahu said. “I thank you for that continuous bridge between Britain and Israel, between Zionism and Britain.”

EJP