United Kingdom (UK)

United Kingdom (UK) is a leading economic and political power in Europe. British legacy in the Middle East and its economic and political strength make it a key player in the region. The UK is an important partner of Israel in the fields of security and diplomacy. Over the past decade, Israeli and British policymakers have increasingly recognized the value of cooperation on shared challenges. Consequently, political ties have grown stronger, despite shifts in transatlantic relations, Brexit negotiations, and differences over Iran and the Palestinian issue. Israel’s growing ties with the UK center on high tech, science and innovation, healthcare, energy, defense, counter terrorism, cyber security and aviation. The UK has identified Israel as one of its top five trade priority countries and one of its top strategic partners in the region. The UK is Israel’s second largest export market globally; Israeli firms and technologies have developed a significant presence in the UK.

ELNET in the UK

The UK-Israel Strategic Dialogues, organized jointly by the Forum of Strategic Dialogue, a member of the ELNET network, and London’s Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), provide a unique platform for strategic discussions between British and Israeli policymakers and experts.

Publications »

Jewish News: Halting arms sales to Israel is a gesture, but a potentially damaging one nonetheless – Joan Ryan

September 11, 2024

ELNET-UK Director Joan Ryan writes about the unintended consequences of the UK government’s recent decision to halt arms sales to Israel. While this move aims to address humanitarian concerns, it not only risks straining the British-Israeli defense and intelligence partnership, but could also embolden adversaries like Iran and send mixed signals about Britain’s stance on Israel’s adherence to international law.

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ELNET Delegation of Senior Defense Officials Visits Israel

September 11, 2024

In an unprecedented initiative, ELNET brought a high-level delegation of international military experts to Israel to provide first-hand insights into the country’s security situation following October 7. The delegation engaged with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and visited key conflict areas, including Gaza, for the first time since the war began.

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Professional Team »

Joan Ryan

Chief Executive Officer,
ELNET-UK
Following a successful career as a local councillor, Joan Ryan was elected as a UK Member of Parliament in 1997. In 2002 Joan Ryan was promoted to Government Whip followed by a further promotion to become the Home Office Minister responsible for Immigration and Police Improvement. In 2007 she was appointed as Special Representative to Cyprus by the Prime Minister and appointed to the Privy Council by Her Majesty the Queen. In 2015 Joan Ryan was appointed as Chair for the Labour Friends of Israel and in 2016 she was appointed by the Speaker to the House of Commons Speaker’s Panel, chairing public bills and parliamentary debates.

Gemma Ricketts

Deputy Director, ELNET-UK
Gemma is a former political advisor with the UK Labour Party, working for politicians including Charles Clark, David Miliband and Pat McFadden. She has spent the last decade in financial services, working on global transformation programmes in the regulatory, risk and conduct space. Gemmahas written extensively on the current Israel-Hamas conflict and has led delegations to Israel.

Oshri Segev

Office Manager, ELNET-UK
Oshri brings a rich background in cultural management to his role at ELNET-UK. For over a decade, he worked as a professional musician, concert and event producer, and director of non-profit cultural organisations in Israel. He has led initiatives that brought hundreds of world-renowned musicians and students to Israel, promoting music and cultural dialogue across the country - particularly in underserved communities in the Israeli Negev. Dreiven by a deep interest in Israeli politics and international relations, Oshri is passionate about strengthening understanding of Israel's role as a stabilising force in the Middle East and its importance to global strategic interests.

Gil Newmark

Policy and Communications Officer, ELNET-UK
Gil recently graduated from Leeds University with a B.A in Politics. He has actively worked to tackle disinformation and advocated against antisemitism on campus and led ELNET-UKs work at the 2024 Actions Matter conference in Berlin.

Executive Board Members

Victor Abrams

Chairman of ELNET-UK
Victor is an expert in global taxation, with nearly 30 years advising the world’s leading companies as a Partner at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and then 6 years as a Special Advisor for KPMG. He is a long- time supporter of Israel, first visiting the country in 1972 to travel and live and work on Givat Brenner kibbutz outside Tel Aviv . In the subsequent four decades he has returned frequently on business and for pleasure, and now splits his time between North London and Netanya alongside his wife Julia. Victor is passionate about the power of international trade and education to improve prosperity, deliver peace, and foster understanding and excitement about Israel and its achievements , and is keen to help build better relationships between UK , European and Israeli decision makers and legislators.

Angela Cohen

Angela Cohen has been Chairman of the ’45 Aid Society for the past 7 years. Her late father, Moishe Malenicky, was one of a group of over 700 orphaned child survivors, brought to the UK in 1945, most of whom had lost their entire families during the Holocaust. Angela has worked with the BBC and a number of production companies and has featured extensively on Holocaust-related TV programmes. In 2022 Angela was awarded an MBE for Holocaust education and awareness together with her son, celebrity Robert Rinder MBE. It was the first time a mother and son received an award together. Angela passionately believes that the stories of the survivors’ experiences are unfortunately as relevant now as they were over 70 years ago and must be used to teach that all life must be valued and respected.

Ged Ornstein

A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and formerly a partner with Fisher Phillips, Chartered Accountants from 1974 until 2014, Ged remains a consultant to the Practice. Ged was previously a Trustee and co-Chair of StandWithUs UK. He is currently a Trustee of The Estelle Trust, which assists schools and communities in Zambia and The Walter Lees Foundation which supports giving opportunities to younger people who have specific needs. Ged has been married for 51 years to Judith, a non-stop campaigner against antisemitism, and the couple have two sons and six grandchildren. He is a staunch advocate of dialogue to promote understanding and clarity and believes taking delegations to Israel is the best way to show Israel as the multi-dimensional democracy it is.

Contact Information »

London
E-mail: info@elnetwork.eu

ELNET-UK Website >>