A parliamentary debate on pro-Israel influence in UK politics exposed deep divisions over lobbying, accountability and foreign donations [Getty]
The creator of a petition calling for an inquiry into pro-Israel influence in UK politics has spoken out after a tense Westminster Hall debate this week exposed sharp divisions over lobbying, political funding and free speech.
Speaking to The New Arab on Friday, Andy Kalil, who launched the petition in January, criticised the responses of several MPs during Monday’s debate, which was broadcast on Parliament’s YouTube channel.
The petition, which was launched in January and received more than 118,000 signatures, raised concerns “about reported Israeli state-linked and pro-Israel lobbying activity in UK politics”.
“I intend to submit a formal complaint,” Kalil told The New Arab.
He added: “My primary concern is the repeated characterisation of the petition, its signatories, and the MPs who spoke in support of it as antisemitic.”
On Monday, Conservative and Labour MPs who belong to pro-Israel groups claimed that the petition was antisemitic.
Meanwhile, a smaller group of pro-Palestine MPs who supported the petition raised detailed questions about lobbying practices, political donations and transparency.
“In my view, this amounted to a sustained attack on a genuine and necessary call for transparency and accountability, rather than meaningful engagement with the issues raised,” Kalil said.
“Underlying the petition is public concern about the influence of pro-Israel lobbying within UK politics and the lack of scrutiny it receives.”
Kalil praised the contributions of Independent Alliance MPs Iqbal Mohamed, Ayoub Khan, Shockat Adam and Adnan Hussain, along with Labour MPs Tahir Ali and Kim Johnson, whom he described as “among the few participants who directly engaged with the concerns raised by petitioners.”
He continued: “Collectively, they argued that questions about lobbying, political influence, transparency and foreign-government relationships are legitimate subjects for democratic scrutiny.”
Kalil also questioned “why a number of MPs who had expressed support for the petition did not contribute”, adding that his complaint would seek further information about how speaking slots were allocated.
“Some MPs faced a scheduling conflict, which meant that there was no Green Party representation. I also saw that the main chamber was in session at the same time – with Jeremy Corbyn present,” he told The New Arab. “Given some of the comments directed at the Labour Party under his tenure, his contribution would have been particularly valuable.”
Kalil further criticised what he described as a lack of acknowledgement of the role of pro-Israel lobby groups in funding British politicians and the impact lobbying has had on political figures.
He pointed to the 2017 Al Jazeera investigation, which reported that Labour members, activists and at least one MP were labelled “antisemitic” after questioning pro-Israel policies.
The controversy over antisemitism within the Labour Party later contributed to the suspension of former leader Jeremy Corbyn after the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) identified serious failings in the party’s handling of antisemitism complaints.
Kalil however argued that the pro-Israel MP’s shifting of the debate’s focus to claimed antisemitism meant that more recent allegations of foreign interference were overlooked.
He cited claims involving the Israeli firm BlackCube, which has been accused of attempting to influence elections and political discourse in several countries. France’s disinformation watchdog Viginum said in June that it had identified accounts linked to the firm that targeted Scottish First Minister John Swinney.
Swinney has previously described the situation in Gaza as a “man-made humanitarian catastrophe” and has said that a genocide may be unfolding, citing civilian casualties, widespread destruction and statements made by Israeli officials.
“These findings, reported alongside wider international investigations into the firm’s activity in other countries, raise serious concerns about external digital interference in Scottish democratic processes,” Kalil added.
He continued: “Perhaps what I found most striking was that the MPs who spoke in support of the petition came from communities that have themselves experienced racism and discrimination. Yet they were repeatedly confronted with accusations that their concerns were inherently antisemitic.”
While Kalil said he had not been surprised by the government’s decision to reject the petition before Monday’s debate, he expressed concern that many of the underlying questions remain unresolved.
“In my view, the debate did not provide satisfactory answers regarding lobbying, political donations, parliamentary visits, transparency, or influence,” he told The New Arab.
“Instead, it demonstrated why many people believe greater scrutiny is necessary.”
However, Kalil said he believed the debate had succeeded in one important respect.
“Concerns that are usually confined to campaign groups, independent media and private conversations were aired in Parliament and entered into the official record,” he said.
“That is a positive outcome within what was otherwise a disappointing process.”
The government’s formal response to the petition, published in April, stated that it would not support an inquiry specifically examining pro-Israel influence in British politics.
In February, the pro-Israel Jewish Leadership Council, which represents numerous Jewish organisations in the UK, wrote to the Petitions Committee claiming that the petition drew upon antisemitic tropes that breached the committee’s rules.
At least six MPs who criticised the petition during Monday’s debate have previously taken all-expenses-paid trips to Israel, although these trips were not mentioned during the debate itself.
The UK formally recognised Palestine as a state in September last year under the government of outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
However, Labour has continued to argue that determining whether Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide is a matter for international courts rather than politicians, despite Labour members voting to recognise genocide in September last year.
Israeli forces have killed more than 73,000 Palestinians since 7 October 2023- with more than 173,000 Palestinians have been wounded, while thousands remain missing and are presumed dead beneath the rubble.
