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.

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.

In his keynote address, President Shimon Peres spoke of the spontaneity of the Arab Spring as a great event, as an opportunity for political, scientific and technological innovation, and as a moment when the renewal and resolution of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians were all the more important. The UK Foreign Secretary spoke of the recent upheaval as a time of unprecedented change in the Arab world, which evoked both optimism and fear. He spoke of the need to reconcile Israeli security with Palestinian aspirations for freedom, emphasising that the peace process must not become a casualty of uncertainty in the region.

Other speakers included HE Ambassador Ron Prosor, former Head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove, Sir Ronald Cohen, Baroness Greenfield, and Dr Yossi Vardi.