UK minister resigns over unauthorized meetings with Israeli officials

8 November 2017, 9:18 pm

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Priti Patel, the British minister who met with senior Israeli officials without receiving prior authorization from her government, resigns after a brief meeting with UK Prime Minister May, according to reports in Britain.

May summoned International Development Secretary Patel back from a trip to Africa to explain her talks with Israeli politicians.

Patel had apologized on Monday for holding 12 separate meetings — including with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — during a family vacation in Israel in August, without notifying the Foreign Office or Downing Street in advance.

After a public reprimand from the prime minister, Patel left the UK on Tuesday for a three-day trip to Uganda, but returned to London’s Heathrow Airport today at May’s request.

Patel is the second cabinet minister in a week to leave May’s government, after Michael Fallon quit as defense secretary on November 1 following allegations of sexual harassment.

Critics of the outcry over the unauthorized meetings have said it reflects an anti-Israel sentiment.

https://twitter.com/johnestevens/status/928296253976469504

Her resignation letter makes no mention of Israel.