A visit by Israel’s president to London has been confirmed for next Thursday, where he is expected to hold discussions with senior government officials. The timing coincides with Britain’s anticipated move to formally recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session.
Multiple sources indicate Isaac Herzog will engage with UK ministers during his visit, marking the first appearance by a high-ranking Israeli official in Britain since spring. The diplomatic encounter occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions, with the British government preparing to join France in endorsing Palestinian statehood next month.
The potential for controversy surrounds the visit, particularly regarding any possible meeting with the prime minister. The Labour party faces internal divisions over the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where health authorities report tens of thousands of casualties since hostilities began.
Herzog, who holds a predominantly ceremonial position separate from the prime minister’s office, has previously supported Israel’s military operations while occasionally differing with the government on domestic policy matters. His past assertion that all Gazans bore responsibility for Hamas’s October 2023 attacks drew international attention and was subsequently referenced in a World Court ruling that found plausible violations of genocide conventions.
The British government has maintained its position that the Israeli prime minister would face arrest if traveling to the UK, following international warrants issued over alleged war crimes. Meanwhile, domestic political pressure continues regarding the government’s approach to the conflict, with some political figures already planning symbolic protests during upcoming state visits to register disapproval of international responses to the situation.
