Emily Thornberry, MP

 Emily Thornberry's position is decidedly critical of the Israeli government, particularly its policies towards Palestine, rather than being an unconditional supporter. While she supports Israel's right to exist and defended its right to self-defence after October 7 , her recent actions and statements are overwhelmingly focused on holding Israel accountable.

Here is a breakdown of her key positions:

· Advocates for Palestine: She has stated the UK has "failed the Palestinian people," calls for sanctions on Israeli settlements, and urges a ban on importing goods from them .
· Defends Two-State Solution: She criticizes the Israeli government for "systematically seizing the West Bank," undermining hopes for peace, and has called for UK recognition of Palestine as a starting point for negotiations .
· Pro-Israel Engagement: She has visited Israel with the Labour Friends of Israel group, supports Israel's right to self-defence, and has a history of pushing back against antisemitism within the Labour party .
· Historic Criticism: She has previously accused the Labour leadership of being too soft on Israel regarding settlement expansion .

In short, Thornberry distinguishes between supporting Israel's right to exist and opposing the actions of its government. She is a vocal critic of Israel's policies in the West Bank and Gaza, advocating for stronger international action against settlement expansion while maintaining a belief in a two-state solution.