Internal government documents have revealed that the UK trade mission to "Israel" led by Ian Austin went ahead in late May, despite Foreign Secretary David Lammy having suspended trade talks with "Israel" just days earlier and issuing a strong rebuke of its government.

A report by The Guardian revealed that the Foreign Office recommended that Lammy endorse the visit, although he ultimately did not receive the submission, nor did he approve the trip, sources confirmed. Officials described the visit as necessary to reassure "Israel’s" business community and preserve the appearance of normal trading relations, The Guardian wrote.

In an unusual move, Foreign Office officials asked for ministerial advice over the visit by trade envoy Ian Austin. However, due to internal delays, the trip proceeded without ministerial sign-off. The visit included engagements that contradicted earlier claims from the Foreign Office that Austin would not meet Israeli government representatives, according to The Guardian. 

Emails reveal that officials had prepared a submission for Lammy and Minister Charles Falconer, justifying the mission. The note stated that the British embassy in Tel Aviv had reported concerns from local businesses over the UK’s announcement on May 20, which suspended free trade talks.

The submission argued that canceling the trip "would send a bad signal" and described the mission as an opportunity to explain that “nothing has changed in our existing trading relationship.”

Meetings with Rafael and Israeli trade officials revealed

Despite prior assurances, Austin met with senior Israeli trade officials and representatives of Rafael, a weapons manufacturer involved in the production of the Iron Dome system and Spike missiles. One of the meetings took place on May 28 with a Rafael executive overseeing international business development.

According to official documents released under a freedom of information request, Austin was briefed on UK-"Israel" arms trade, including discussions on policy, joint research and development, and export opportunities, according to the report. Although parts of the briefing were redacted, the included talking points indicated awareness of the sensitivity around export licenses and suspended trade discussions.

Rafael’s Spike missiles have been linked to Israeli strikes in Gaza, including the November 2023 attack on an ambulance convoy and the April 2024 drone strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, three of whom were British citizens.

Policy contradictions

The report revealed that the visit has raised concerns over coherence in David Lammy’s foreign policy, as it took place days after his public condemnation of the Israeli government and the decision to suspend trade negotiations.

The British embassy promoted Austin’s visit as business-focused. However, photographs show him with senior Israeli trade officials on multiple occasions. He was also present at a reception hosted at the British ambassador’s residence in Tel Aviv on May 27, where Education Minister Yoav Kisch gave a speech praising UK-"Israel" ties.

Austin was photographed with Lena Zeiger, a senior official overseeing "Israel’s" international trade agreements, and Yifat Alon Perel, deputy director of the foreign trade administration, who reportedly led negotiations on the now-frozen UK-"Israel" free trade agreement.

Sources told The Guardian that neither Lammy nor Falconer saw the Foreign Office submission seeking their approval for the visit, and were reportedly displeased that the trip proceeded without their knowledge or endorsement.

A draft version of the submission stated explicitly that "Lord Austin will not be meeting any representatives from the Israeli government." However, the events of the trip and photographs published by embassy staff contradict this assertion.