Sir Keir Starmer has been accused by an Israeli minister of “emboldening the forces of terror” in the wake of the shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC.
Amichai Chikli, Israeli diaspora affairs minister, said the world must hold to account the “irresponsible leaders in the West who give backing” to hatred against Jews and Israelis, “whether through appeasement, double standards, or silence”.
“French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have all, in different ways, emboldened the forces of terror through their failure to draw moral red lines.,” he said.
“This cowardice has a price – and that price is paid in Jewish blood. We will continue to fight antisemitism everywhere – with clarity, courage, and zero tolerance.”
The statement was posted by Mr Chikli on X as part of his response to the killing of young diplomats Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim at they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday evening.
The couple, who were expected to get engaged, were killed when a man armed with a handgun approached a group of four people and opened fire.
The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, then fled into the museum in the chaos that ensued and was detained by security staff and began chanting, "Free, free Palestine," police said.
Gideon Sa’ar, Israeli foreign minister, also lashed out at world leaders, and said “this is what happens when world leaders surrender to the Palestinian terrorist propaganda. Stop your incitement against Israel. Stop your false accusations”.
Their comments come after the UK this week suspended talks on a trade deal with Israel, summoned the country's ambassador and imposed fresh sanctions on West Bank settlers in reponse to Israel’s continued military action in Gaza.
The UK, France and Canada warned earlier this week Israel they will take "concrete actions" if it continues an "egregious" expansion of military operations in Gaza.
Sir Keir joined the French and Canadian leaders to call on the Israeli government to "stop its military operations" and "immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza" amid warnings of widespread starvation among inhabitants.
Another statement followed, signed by 27 donor countries including the UK, condemning a new Gaza aid delivery model being promoted by Israel.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had responded by saying the three leaders had offered a "huge prize" for Hamas in the Gaza war.
In the wake of the shooting in Washington Downing Street condemned the attack, saying: “We are obviously absolutely horrified by the killing of two Israeli embassy staff in DC. The Prime Minister’s thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all the staff at the embassy.
“Antisemitism is an evil that we must stamp out wherever it appears, and the Prime Minister stands in solidarity with the Jewish community here in the UK, and the Government has offered its full support to the Israeli embassy in London.”
The UK Government’s approach towards Israel’s actions in Gaza will not change as a result of the killings, the spokesman indicated, but added this “does not take away at all from the fact that antisemitism is an evil that must be stamped out wherever it appears”.
