UK PM rejects Corbyn's call for Israeli embassy investigation
Shai Masot, who was secretly recorded last October as part of a four part documentary produced by Al-Jazeera titled "The Lobby", later resigned from his post.
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: JANUARY 17, 2017 16:24Theresa May emerges to speak to reporters after being confirmed as the leader of the Conservative Party..(photo credit: REUTERS)
UK Prime Minister Theresa May rejected main parliamentary opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn's call for a full investigation into Israeli officials following an embarrassing diplomatic row, according to The Jewish Chronicle Tuesday.Corbyn, chairman of the UK's Labour party, made the demand following the revelation that an Israeli embassy employee was heard discussing the "take down" of British senior officials, describing the incident as the "improper interference into [the UK's] democratic process.""This is clearly a national security issue," the Labour leader wrote in a letter addressed to the premier earlier this week. “It is only on [the basis of an investigation] that Parliament and the public will be reassured that such activities will not be tolerated by your government."A UK government spokesperson said, however, that the premier accepted the Israeli ambassador's apology for the incident, adding that it was "clear these comments do not reflect the views of the Embassy or Government of Israel."“The UK has a strong relationship with Israel and we consider the matter closed,” the spokesperson added.Shai Masot, who was secretly recorded last October as part of a four part documentary produced by Al-Jazeera titled "The Lobby", later resigned from his post.Shortly after Masot's remarks surfaced on January 8, the Israeli embassy in London apologized for the incident, calling the employee's comments "unacceptable."