Bilateral Relations

On 27 April 1950, the British Government sitting in the House of Commons and the House of Lords formally recognised the jurisdiction of the State of Israel over its sovereign territory .

By signing into law a formal recognition of Israel, Britain became one of the first overseas nations to extend diplomatic relations to the new country. Sir Alexander Knox-Helm, then Charge d’Affaires and Minister at the Palestine High Commission, became the first diplomatic envoy of Great Britain to the State of Israel. The relationship, however, had begun many years earlier.

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From 2010 to 2011 Israel and Britain celebrated the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Throughout the year the Embassy highlighted this enduring and productive relationship with a series of events which culminated in the successful conference at Chatham House marking Sixty Years of British-Israeli Relations.

The conference brought together speakers from both countries to reflect on the past 60 years of bilateral diplomatic and economic relations, scientific innovation, and security cooperation and challenges.

Speakers included President Shimon Peres, HE Ambassador Ron Prosor, former Head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove, Sir Ronald Cohen, Baroness Greenfield, and Dr Yossi Vardi.