UK: Starmer appoints pro-Israel lobbyist as his parliamentary private secretary

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed the chair of Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) as his parliamentary private secretary.

Jon Pearce, who was elected as an MP last year, visited Israel and the UAE earlier this year and publicly opposed Britain recognising a Palestinian state unilaterally.

The role of parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the prime minister is conventionally held by backbenchers and is a coveted position, despite being unpaid, for the access it provides to the leader.

Pearce has stepped down from his LFI role to assume his new duty.

Pearce went on a five-day trip to Israel in May to "show solidarity" alongside four other Labour MPs.

The delegation posed for photos with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and met Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, leader of the opposition Yair Lapid, and reserve Major General Yair Golan.

Three of the MPs in the delegation, not including Pearce, failed to declare their all-expenses-paid trip - funded by anonymous donors. 

Pearce then became the first British parliamentarian to fly directly from Israel to the United Arab Emirates, a route launched aftet the 2020 Abraham Accords.

In Abu Dhabi he met Ali Rashid al-Nuaimi, a member of the UAE federal national council who has been a key figure in promoting normalisation with Israel.

Pearce said after the visit that, "I shall be exploring with both Israelis and the UAE how Britain can help widen and deepen the normalisation process."

Opposing Palestine recognition

In late July Pearce expressed opposition to Britain unilaterally recognising a Palestinian state, saying "we would inevitably risk damaging our reputation as an impartial broker and reduce our ability to bring about a sustainable long-term peace".

Pearce said: "Britain must reject such a performative approach to an issue that demands a willingness to do the detail and last the course."

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Shortly afterwards, then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced Britain intended to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly this month.

However, he has also opposed Netanyahu, saying in June: "While Hamas instigated this war, the right-wing government of Binyamin Netanyahu also bears responsibility for the failure to reach a permanent ceasefire.

"The Netanyahu government has been a disaster - for Israel, the Palestinians and the prospects of a groundbreaking wider regional peace agreement.

"It is time for the Israeli prime minister and his administration to go."

He added: "The UK is right to call out Netanyahu’s actions which are so damaging to Israel and the Palestinians.

"But we should do so in a manner which will also resonate with the Israeli public, including by recognising Hamas’ responsibility for starting this tragic conflict and its role in perpetuating it by refusing to release the hostages and relinquish power."