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.

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.

ELNET in the United Kingdom (UK)

E-mail: info@elnetwork.eu

Seventh UK-Israel Strategic Dialogue

April 20, 2022

ELNET and the Forum of Strategic Dialogue (FSD), in partnership with Chatham House held the seventh Strategic Dialogue between the UK and Israel.

ELNET Executive Director Joan Ryan featured piece in Jewish Chronicle on Israel-Apartheid Week at UK Universities

March 19, 2022

In an exclusive op-ed published by the Jewish Chronicle, ELNET-UK Executive Director Joan Ryan details the true dangers behind the apartheid smear falsely attributed to Israel as ‘Israel Apartheid Week’ which takes place across several UK university campuses.

Special BDS Bulletin – ELNET UK joins with Community Leaders in Messages against BDS

February 17, 2022

ELNET-UK publishes special bulletin on the BDS movement

Important New op-ed from ELNET-UK Executive Director in Newsweek: “To combat antisemitism, we must oppose anti-Zionism – at home and abroad”

February 10, 2022

In an exclusive Newsweek op-ed, ELNET-UK Executive Director Joan Ryan talks about her resignation from the Corbyn-led Labour party, and warns of the growing wave of antisemitism threatening Jews across the globe and its direct correlation to anti-Zionism.

Holocaust Memorial Day – ELNET UK joins with Community Leaders in Messages of Remembrance

January 27, 2022

To mark this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day, ELNET UK is sharing the following messages from the Holocaust Education Trust, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and from our own Patron, Rabbi Baroness Julia Neuberger.

ELNET Receives Warm Welcome in the UK

November 28, 2021

We are delighted that ELNET’s UK office, launched in summer 2021, already received a warm welcome from key figures involved in strengthening UK’s ties with Israel and its allies across the European continent.

Joan Ryan

Executive Director,
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.

Judith Lobb

Deputy Director,
ELNET-UK

Jude Lobb has a solid track record in politics and public affairs. She has a wealth of experience, having worked in the private and charity sectors for over 10 years in a diverse range of areas including health and corporate social responsibility. Jude has worked for a number of Government Ministers with portfolios including immigration and education. As a strong strategic communicator, Jude has consistently brought together parliamentarians, policy developers and other key opinion formers with the organisations she represented.

Sarah Fox

Political Assistant
ELNET-UK

Sarah is the political assistant for ELNET-UK. She previously studied International Relations at the University of Leeds where she obtained first class honours for modules in Terrorism and Arab-Israeli politics. Her passion for Holocaust education led her to write her dissertation on modern memory of the Holocaust in twenty-first century Poland. Through this research, Sarah cultivated a rich understanding of various representations of Jewish identity and heritage and ways in which societies navigate collective trauma in modern Europe.