Page "Foreign relations of Israel" Paragraph 176

Since its recognized independence in 1948, the United Kingdom and Israel have shared cordial and strongly strategic relations ; the two nations share interests in the fields of political cooperation, immigration ( seeing as many British Jews migrate to Israel ) and economic trade.

However, relations between the two countries began as hostile.

During the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, Britain detained 8, 000 Jewish men of military age attempting to emigrate to Israel in Cyprus, so they could not participate in the fighting.

Britain supplied weapons to the Arab states, and almost went to war with Israel.

When Israel captured the Negev, the British Ministry of Defence began to draw up plans for a possible invasion of Israel.

British planes spied on Israeli positions, and war between the two countries became even more possible when four British planes were shot down by Israel.

However, the two countries began to soften later on, and trade began.

This was confirmed in 1956 when Israel effectively allied with France and the UK to invade Suez.

Nevertheless, Anglo-Israeli relations became turbulent in the summer of 2006 when Prime Minister Tony Blair, along with many other European leaders criticized IDF airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, which had high civilian casualties.

During the current Cameron premiership, relations between the two countries continue to remain close.