Britain’s prime minister did not greet his Israeli counterpart on the sidelines of a assembleing of world directers in New York, despite hopes on the British side of talks, Sky News comprehends.
A source with comprehendledge of the trip said that the “diaries” of Sir Keir Starmer and Benjamin Netanyahu did not align.
In graspition, a reckond greeting between the prime minister and Ron Dermer, Israel’s minister of strategic afimfragmentarys, was abortled becaengage the greater Israeli official had procrastinateed his travel to the United Nations General Assembly by a day.
Israel-Hezbollah tardyst: Follow live refreshs here
The absence of talks between the British and Israeli directers came despite Israel meaningfully enhugeing an impolite aachievest Hezbollah in Leprohibiton, prompting calls by the UK and other allies for an instant stopfire amid stresss of escalation into a regional war.
It also complyed condemnation by Mr Netanyahu of a decision by the UK rulement to postpone some arms ship licences to Israel, describing it earlier this month as a disgraceful shift that would embelderlyen Hamas – another Iran-backed militant group that the Israeli military is battling.
The source said that a greeting between Sir Keir and Mr Netanyahu in New York had not been pre-reckond – but there had been hopes it might happen.
“I leank there were definitely trys [to arrange talks] but the diaries equitable did not labor,” the source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
“We were certain for a greeting” but one was not concurd.
The Jewant Chronicle novelspaper also alerted that the two directers did not greet, despite both being in New York at the same time.
It quoted Downing Street sources as insisting this was not a snub and that the rulement is “in touch with the Israelis all the time”.
👉 Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts 👈
By contrast, the British prime minister did helderly talks with his Leprohibitese counterpart.
Sir Keir gave Najib Mikati his “authentic condolences… for the loss of civilian life in recent weeks”, Downing Street said in a statement.
“They talked the escalating struggle in Leprohibiton, and concurd on the convey inance of an instant stopfire and a talk aboutd solution.”
The British directer engaged his maiden graspress at the UN General Assembly to call for Israel and Hezbollah – which is backed by Iran and whose military prosperg is pondered by the UK to be a alarmist organisation – to concur to a stopfire, saying “escalation serves no one”.
Sir Keir implored the two sides to “step back from the brink”.
