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Middle East and North Africa
Israel |
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Last updated: 25 June 2009
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Country information
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Israel has diplomatic relations with 160 countries. It has over 90 diplomatic missions.
In the Middle East, Israel has diplomatic relations with Egypt (Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty 1979) and Jordan (Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace 1994). Lebanon and Syria do not have diplomatic relations with Israel. The governments of Tunisia, Morocco, and Oman suspended diplomatic relations at the start of the Second Intifada (2000).
ISRAEL'S RELATIONS WITH THE UK
Since the founding of the State of Israel, bilateral relations between the UK and Israel have been solid, but not without differences of opinion. An active British Jewish community has always brought vitality to the relationship. There are regular Ministerial exchanges: the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, visited Israel as part of the celebrations for its Diamond Jubilee year in July 2008, becoming the first British Prime Minister to address the Knesset. He also visited Israel, together with five other European leaders, in January 2009 following the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, last visited Israel in November 2008.
In November 2008, the Israeli President, Shimon Peres, visited the UK and addressed members of both Houses of Parliament. He also received an honorary knighthood from HM The Queen.
Diplomatic Representation
The UK has full diplomatic relations with Israel. The British Embassy in Israel is located in Tel Aviv. Responsibility for East and West Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza lies with the British Consulate-General in Jerusalem.
UK in Israel
UK in Jerusalem
