Under fire Cabinet Minister Priti Patel did not tell Theresa May she had offered UK money to the Israeli army during secret meetings in Middle East, Downing Street revealed today.
The International Development Secretary made the suggestion during a meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister in August as she met with Benjamin Netanyahu without Downing Street’s knowledge.
However, despite yesterday giving May a full update of all 12 meetings she had with officials during her ‘holiday’, Patel did not reveal she had promised taxpayers cash to help the Israeli army carry out humanitarian work in the disputed Golan Heights region of the Middle East.
The Prime Minister’s Official spokesman confirmed this afternoon the Prime Minister had been left in the dark about that pledge – which would represent a significant policy shift as the UK does not recognise Israel’s claim to the region which is deemed as Syrian territory.
The spokesman said he was “still not in a position to go into precise detail” about the conversation between Patel and May, but added: “We knew she’d discussed humanitarian support. In terms of aid to the Israeli army, that’s a proposal that wasn’t taken forward so I’m not aware that that specific point ever got as far as us. I don’t think it ever left FCO/Dfid [Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Department for International Development].
When pressed, the spokesman added: “As to whether or not we ever had a conversation about that specifically about that particular aspect of foreign aid, I couldn’t say.
“It may well be that we didn’t.”
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