UK ‘Foreign Office camel corps pandering to Arab dictators’ cancels Prince Charles visit to Israel

 

Afraid to ruffle Arab feathers, the British Foreign Office scrubs the very first official Royal state visit to Israel since it’s 1948 independence.

By David Willetts & Jack Royston

 

PRINCE Charles is at the centre of a diplomatic row after plans for him to visit Israel were dropped by the Foreign Office.

The heir to the throne was set to become the first Royal to carry out an official state visit to Israel since it was created in 1948.

Prince Charles was set to travel to Israel to honour thousands of British war dead at the centenary of the WW1 Palestine Campaign and the historic Balfour Declaration.

But insiders say the controversial trip – unofficially pencilled in for later this year – has now been binned.

It is feared the decision may have been taken to avoid upsetting Arab nations in the region who regularly host UK Royals.

A former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan branded the decision an “insult to British war dead” although there is no suggestion Charles was personally involved in any discussions leading to it.

The proposed move is even more upsetting, say insiders, as Australian PM Malcom Turnbull has confirmed he will attend commemoration services.

Last night former Colonel Richard Kemp – a long-time supporter of Israel – slammed the Foreign Office as “camel corps” who were “pandering” to Arab dictators.

The idea of a Royal state visit first surfaced after Reuven Rivlin, the Israeli President, extended an invitation via Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson at a meeting in Jerusalem earlier this year.

Prince Charles was set to pay respects to 16,000 British and Commonwealth troops who died during the Palestine Campaign in 1917.

 

View original The Sun publication at: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3500094/prince-charles-has-visit-to-israel-cancelled-by-foreign-office-camel-corps-pandering-to-arab-dictators/