UK's New Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Strong Supporters of Israel
CBN News 07-14-2016
JERUSALEM, Israel – Britain's new prime minister and foreign minister are both strong supporters of Israel.
Newly installed British Prime Minister Theresa May reportedly has a long history of standing with Israel and supporting the Jewish community.
May, the second woman to serve as British premier (Margaret Thatcher served from 1979-1990), was sworn in Wednesday. Former Prime Minister David Cameron stepped down earlier, as he said he would, after the Brexit referendum set the stage for Britain's exit from the European Union.
During May's first official visit to Israel in the summer of 2014, she toured Jerusalem's Yad VaShem Holocaust Memorial, where she called the Nazi genocide "the worst crime in history."
She has also spoken out strongly against terrorism, both in Israel and abroad. Following the deadly assault in March 2015 at a kosher supermarket in Paris, May joined the public outcry with a "Je sui Juif" (I am Jewish) poster.
The evening before her installation, British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis hosted the new prime minister and her husband for dinner, The Tower magazine reported.
"Few people are more talented or better qualified to tackle [Britain's] immense challenges," the chief rabbi told reporters afterward, wishing her "every success" as the country's head of state.
On Wednesday, May appointed former London Mayor Boris Johnson, an outspoken opponent of the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement, as foreign minister.
During a visit to Israel last November, Johnson angered the Palestinian Authority when he said he couldn't think of anything more foolish than to boycott "the only democracy in the region."
Unlike May, who voted for the U.K. to remain in the European Union, Johnson supported the Brexit referendum marking Britain's exit from the E.U.
On Wednesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron, thanking him for standing with Israel during his tenure. Netanyahu also congratulated the new prime minister by letter, his office reported.
