Wed Sep 25 00:40:35 UTC 2024: ## Labour Ministers Praise Role of Labour Friends of Israel at Party Conference

**Brighton, UK** – A packed reception at the Labour Party’s annual conference saw a number of high-profile ministers praise the role of the Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) group, highlighting their contributions to shaping government policy.

The event, held on Tuesday night, was attended by over 700 people, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, and ministers Pat McFadden and Peter Kyle. Reeves emphasized the importance of the LFI in supporting the Jewish community, especially in the wake of the Hamas attacks in October.

“I am here to offer my support, my love and my friendship,” Reeves said, adding that she would always be a supporter of the LFI despite her current ministerial position.

Rayner echoed this sentiment, stating that “Britain stands with you and by you in your campaign to free your loved ones and all the hostages being held by Hamas.”

The reception also featured poignant speeches from Sharone Lifschitz, daughter of 83-year-old hostage Ode, and her relative Noam Safir, who spoke of their ordeal after her grandfather was taken hostage. Lifschitz, in an emotional rebuke of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticized his failure to visit the devastated Kibbutz Nir Oz. She also challenged the hardline rhetoric of Israeli ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, suggesting security in the region could only be achieved through a rejection of violence by both Israelis and Palestinians.

Other key speakers included LFI’s newly-appointed parliamentary chair Jon Pearce MP, who emphasized the importance of the group’s shared ambitions with the new Labour government, and former LFI chair Louise Ellman, who lauded the group’s vital role in promoting understanding and support for the Jewish community.

The event was a strong demonstration of Labour’s commitment to the Jewish community and their support for the LFI’s work. The reception served as a platform for discussion on a range of issues, including the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine, the need for a two-state solution, and the importance of combating antisemitism.

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