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Eitay Mack, Advocate
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9
August 2018 To: Mr. Zini Arie FOIA Department Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Re: freedom of information request regarding actions vis-a-vis the UK Labour Party and its leader by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs
1.
This appeal is made on behalf of human rights activists Dr. Anat Matar, Dr. Halleli Pinson, Dr. Neve Gordon, Buma Inbar, Shaul Tcherikover, Sahar Vardi, Talya Ezrahi, Yael Agmon, Claudio Kogon, Nuni Tal, Amnon Lotan, Ofer Neiman, Guy Hircefeld, Dr. Kobi Snitz, Amir Bitan, Mieko Galiko, Vered Bitan and Guy Butavia. 2.
Since the information regards both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, the request is submitted to both. 3.
In the past two years, it has been revealed that the two ministries carry out activities against critics of the State of Israel in the UK
1
. In addition, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, has publicly confronted Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, head of the UK Labour Party, on several occasions
2
. 4.
In fact, Corbin is "Thorn in the side" of the Foreign Minister, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Strategic Affairs. While they have been highly
https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/.premium-1.3082084 ; https://news.walla.co.il/item/3029486 ;
https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/.premium-1.2995473 ; http://www.maariv.co.il/news/world/Article-569490 ;
https://www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/358062 ; https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4797933,00.html ;
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/dec/06/labour-leadership-in-uk-has-antisemitic-views-says-israeli-minister-gilad-erdan ;
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successful in their relations with regimes that are responsible for mass murder (e.g., South Sudan and the Philippines), regimes that are infected with anti-Semitism (e.g., Hungary, Poland and Ukraine), regimes that use rape as a weapon of war (e.g., Burma), and corrupt regimes (e.g., Guatemala and Honduras)
–
At the helm of a large and veteran party in one of the most important countries in Europe, there is a pro-Palestinian leader who supports human and civil rights and social rights. 5.
Mr. Corbyn has, among other things, thwarted attempts by the two ministries to silence any critique of the State of Israel and the Netanyahu government, by deeming such critique "The new anti-Semitism". Furthermore, Corbyn's staunch opposition to despotic regimes which violate human rights around the world, has weakened the State of Israel's legitimacy to sell arms to regimes which murder, rape, torture and disappear citizens, in exchange for pro-Israel votes at the UN and the promotion of economic interests. 6.
In these circumstances, there is a need for public scrutiny of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, to verify that these play no part in the de-legitimization waged in recent years on the UK Labour Party and Mr. Corbyn. Therefore, the following information is requested, starting June 2015, when Mr. Corbyn announced his leadership bid (he was elected in September 2015): a.
Information, documents and records as to correspondence by the two ministries with NGOs, groups, individuals and journalists in the UK, regarding the UK Labour Party and Mr. Corbyn. b.
Information, documents and records as to meetings held by the ministries or their representatives in the UK (including the logs of the Israeli embassy in London), with NGOs, groups, individuals and journalists, regarding the UK Labour Party and Mr. Corbyn. c.
Information, documents and records as to the delivery of information to journalists in the UK, regarding the UK Labour Party and Mr. Corbyn. d.
Information, documents and records as to public activities and lobbying by the two ministries and their representatives in the UK (including the Israeli embassy in London), regarding the UK Labour Party and Mr. Corbyn. e.
Information, documents and records as to budgets for the funding of public activities in the UK (including the Israeli embassy in London), regarding the UK Labour Party and Mr. Corbyn. f.
Information, documents and records of meetings and decisions at/by the two ministries and their representatives (including the Israeli embassy in London)