Difference between revisions of "Conservative Friends of Israel"

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Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) is one of the most active lobby groups in Westminster; 80 per cent of all Conservative MPs are members,<ref>Peter Oborne, Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby, ''Channel 4 Dispatches'', 16-November-2009, Viewed 02-January-2010</ref> though compared with other British lobbies the group has so far received little press coverage.<ref name=obornejones>Peter Oborne and James Jones, [http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/peter-oborne-james-jones/pro-israel-lobby-in-britain-full-text "The pro-Israel lobby in Britain: full text"], OpenDemocracy, 13 November 2009, accessed on 15 December 2010</ref> According to a 2009 documentary on Channel Four’s Dispatches program called ''Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby'',<ref name=pg>People's Geography, [http://peoplesgeography.com/2009/11/17/inside-britains-israel-lobby-full-episode/ "Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby – Dispatches"], People's Geography, 17 November 2009</ref> donations to the Conservative party "from all CFI members and their businesses add up to well over £10m over the last eight years". CFI has disputed the figure and called the film "deeply flawed".<ref name=bankrolling>Ian Black, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/16/pro-israel-lobby-conservatives-channel4-dispatches "Pro-Israel lobby group bankrolling Tories, film claims"], ''Guardian,'' 16 November 2009, accessed on 19 December 2010</ref>
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{{short description|'''Lobby group within the UK Conservative Party, founded in 1974; a company limited by guarantee since 2012'''}}
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{{Infobox organization
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| name            = Conservative Friends of Israel
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| logo            = Conservative_Friends_of_Israel_logo.png
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| image_size      = 200
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| type            = Political lobby group (private company limited by guarantee)
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| founded        = {{Start date|1974}}
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| founder        = [[Michael Fidler]]
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| registration_id = 08114952 ([[Companies House]])
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| status          = Active
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| headquarters    = 325-327 Oldfield Lane North, Greenford, Middlesex, United Kingdom, UB6 0FX
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| location        = London, United Kingdom
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| area_served    = United Kingdom; Israel
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| services        = Delegations to Israel for Conservative parliamentarians and candidates; briefings
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| registration    = England and Wales (company)
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| key_people      = [[Stuart Polak]] (director; Honorary President)<br>[[Eric Pickles]] (Chair in the House of Lords)<br>[[Greg Smith (politician)]] (Chair, Parliamentary Board)
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| website        = {{URL|https://www.cfoi.co.uk/}}
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}}
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'''Conservative Friends of Israel''' (CFI) is one of the most active lobby groups in Westminster; It claims that 80 per cent of all Conservative MPs are members,<ref>Peter Oborne, Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby, ''Channel 4 Dispatches'', 16-November-2009, Viewed 02-January-2010</ref> though compared with other British lobbies the group has so far received little press coverage.<ref name=obornejones>Peter Oborne and James Jones, [http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/peter-oborne-james-jones/pro-israel-lobby-in-britain-full-text "The pro-Israel lobby in Britain: full text"], OpenDemocracy, 13 November 2009, accessed on 15 December 2010</ref> According to a 2009 documentary on Channel Four’s Dispatches program called ''Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby'',<ref name=pg>People's Geography, [http://peoplesgeography.com/2009/11/17/inside-britains-israel-lobby-full-episode/ "Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby – Dispatches"], People's Geography, 17 November 2009</ref> donations to the Conservative party "from all CFI members and their businesses add up to well over £10m over the last eight years". CFI has disputed the figure and called the film "deeply flawed".<ref name=bankrolling>Ian Black, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/nov/16/pro-israel-lobby-conservatives-channel4-dispatches "Pro-Israel lobby group bankrolling Tories, film claims"], ''Guardian,'' 16 November 2009, accessed on 19 December 2010</ref>
  
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==Parliamentary Donations==
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==Origins and development==
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As support for Israel in the Labour Party waned during the ‘70s and ‘80s, support within the Conservative Party meanwhile began to grow. In the 1970s, the ascendant Tory right wing came increasingly to see Israel as a military and strategic asset for ‘the West’, whilst politics in Israel began to shift to the right. [[Conservative Friends of Israel]] (CFI), which was founded in 1974, both reflected and strengthened this trend.
  
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CFI operates as an "unincorporated association", which according to Peter Oborne means:
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It was established by the Conservative politician [[Michael Fidler]], who was described by his biographer as having had extreme political views ‘reminiscent of the philosophy of Enoch Powell’.<ref> Bill Williams, ''Michael Fidler (1916-1989): A study in leadership'' Stockport: R&D Graphics, 1997 p.315. </ref>  Over 80 MPs joined the new group, including [[Margaret Thatcher]], who was soon to become party leader, and within a year CFI had a larger membership than [[Labour Friends
 of Israel]].<ref>Bill Williams, ''Michael Fidler (1916-1989): A study in leadership'' Stockport: R&D Graphics, 1997 p.347. </ref>
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By 1978 it was the largest political lobby in Parliament.<ref> ''American Jewish Yearbook, 1980'' p.199. </ref>  According to conservative journalist Peter Oborne, it is now ‘beyond doubt the best connected, and probably the best funded, of all Westminster lobbying groups'<ref name="Oborne"> Peter Oborne and James Jones, ‘The pro-Israel lobby in 
Britain: full text’, OpenDemocracy,
13 November 2009. http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/peter-oborne-james-jones/pro-israel-lobby-in-britain-full-text
</ref> and is said to include around 80 per cent of Tory MPs as members.<ref name="double">‘Double role of a top Tory lobbyist’, Sunday Times, 21 October 2012.</ref>  Like its Labour counterpart, Conservative Friends of Israel organises events in Parliament and free trips to Israel for Parliamentarians. It is also thought to organise financial patronage for prospective MPs from wealthy Zionists. <ref name="Oborne"/>  [[BICOM]]’s Public Affairs Manager, [[Stefan Kerner]], is a former deputy director of [[Conservative Friends of Israel]]<ref>BICOM, About > Team, http://www.BICOM.org.uk/ about/team/</ref> and according to Peter Oborne there is ‘a huge amount of co-ordination’ between BICOM and Conservative Friends of Israel: ‘Many of BICOM’s key figures also play roles in the CFI: [[Trevor Pears]], [[Michael Lewis]] and [[Poju Zabludowicz]] are driving forces behind both lobbies.'<ref name="Oborne"/> 
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Since 1989 CFI has been headed by [[Stuart Polak]], who also runs the lobbying firm, [[The Westminster Connection]]. Clients of this ‘political consultancy’ include the Israeli defence company, [[Elbit Systems]], the British chair of which, retired General [[Richard Applegate]], was secretly recorded in 2012 saying that Elbit had ‘piggy back[ed]’ on Conservative Friends of Israel to ‘gain access to particular decision makers’.<ref name="double"/>
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==Parliamentary donations==
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CFI operates as an "unincorporated association", which according to [[Peter Oborne]] means:
  
 
:It is a collection of individuals who don’t need to open their books, it may be legal but it’s hardly transparent.<ref>Peter Oborne, Inside Britain's Israel Lobby, ''Channel 4 Dispatches'', Aired 16-November-2009, Viewed 03-January-2010</ref>
 
:It is a collection of individuals who don’t need to open their books, it may be legal but it’s hardly transparent.<ref>Peter Oborne, Inside Britain's Israel Lobby, ''Channel 4 Dispatches'', Aired 16-November-2009, Viewed 03-January-2010</ref>
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:The Tory MPs fighting parliamentary seats in 2005 whose campaigns were funded by these donors included [[Ed Vaizey]], shadow minister for culture, media and sport; [[Greg Hands]], shadow treasury minister; [[Michael Gove]], shadow education secretary; [[Brooks Newmark]], opposition foreign affairs whip; [[Shailesh Vara]], shadow deputy leader of the Commons; [[Grant Shapps]], shadow minister for housing; [[Adam Holloway]] MP.  
 
:The Tory MPs fighting parliamentary seats in 2005 whose campaigns were funded by these donors included [[Ed Vaizey]], shadow minister for culture, media and sport; [[Greg Hands]], shadow treasury minister; [[Michael Gove]], shadow education secretary; [[Brooks Newmark]], opposition foreign affairs whip; [[Shailesh Vara]], shadow deputy leader of the Commons; [[Grant Shapps]], shadow minister for housing; [[Adam Holloway]] MP.  
  
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:Many of them then went on a CFI trip to Israel in 2006, although [[Michael Gove]] - whose polemic Celsius 7/7 comes free with CFI membership - has never been to Israel. Most have been supportive of Israel in speeches to parliament and none have been overtly critical. There is also a suggestion that some members of the CFI target MPs who are critical of Israel. For instance [[Karen Buck]], the Labour MP for Regent’s Park and Kensington North, has been an outspoken critic. Her Conservative opponent [[Joanne Cash]], who works for the think tank [[Policy Exchange]], has received cheques cumulatively worth at least £20,000.<ref>Peter Oborne, [http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:QY1rlNdZlQ0J:www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/D/dispatches/israel/proisraellobbypamphlet.pdf+CFI+made+donations+to+%5B%5BEd+Vaizey%5D%5D,+%5B%5BShailesh+Vara%5D%5D,+%5B%5BMichael+Gove%5D%5D,+%5B%5BGreg+Hands%5D%5D,+%5B%5BGrant+Chaps%5D%5D,+%5B%5BBrooks+Newmark%5D%5D.&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk Pro Israel Lobby Pamphlet], Channel 4 Dispatches, 16-November-2009, Accessed 03-January-2009</ref>
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:Many of them then went on a CFI trip to Israel in 2006, although [[Michael Gove]] - whose polemic Celsius 7/7 comes free with CFI membership - has never been to Israel. Most have been supportive of Israel in speeches to parliament and none have been overtly critical. There is also a suggestion that some members of the CFI target MPs who are critical of Israel. For instance [[Karen Buck]], the Labour MP for Regent’s Park and Kensington North, has been an outspoken critic. Her Conservative opponent [[Joanne Cash]], who works for the think tank [[Policy Exchange]], has received cheques cumulatively worth at least £20,000.<ref>James Jones and Peter Oborne, [https://web.archive.org/web/20091122073906/http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/D/dispatches/israel/proisraellobbypamphlet.pdf The Pro Israel Lobby in Britain], Channel 4 pamphlet, 2009. Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 22 November 2009. </ref>
  
 
==Relations with David Cameron==
 
==Relations with David Cameron==
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:“for the Palestinians themselves, their obligations are clear: Prove you are a reliable negotiating partner. Bring order to your own society. And renounce violence completely”.<ref>David Cameron, [http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:WTReLYCY-awJ:www.cfoi.co.uk/documents/200961914361_Cameron%2520speech%2520-%252018%2520June%25202009.doc+conservative+friends+of+israel+annual+lunch+david+cameron&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk SPEECH BY CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER DAVID CAMERON TO THE CONSERVATIVE FRIENDS OF ISRAEL ANNUAL LUNCH HELD IN LONDON ON THURSDAY 18TH JUNE 2009], Conservative Friends of Israel, 18-June-2009, Accessed 02-January-2009</ref>
 
:“for the Palestinians themselves, their obligations are clear: Prove you are a reliable negotiating partner. Bring order to your own society. And renounce violence completely”.<ref>David Cameron, [http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:WTReLYCY-awJ:www.cfoi.co.uk/documents/200961914361_Cameron%2520speech%2520-%252018%2520June%25202009.doc+conservative+friends+of+israel+annual+lunch+david+cameron&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk SPEECH BY CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER DAVID CAMERON TO THE CONSERVATIVE FRIENDS OF ISRAEL ANNUAL LUNCH HELD IN LONDON ON THURSDAY 18TH JUNE 2009], Conservative Friends of Israel, 18-June-2009, Accessed 02-January-2009</ref>
  
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==Lobbying Activities==
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==Lobbying activities==
  
 
===Flying Conservative parliamentary candidates to Israel===
 
===Flying Conservative parliamentary candidates to Israel===
  
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From 2006 to 2009 shows that the CFI flew over 30 Conservative parliamentary candidates to Israel on free trips,<ref name=dele>CFI, [http://www2.cfoi.co.uk/Delegations/AboutCFIDelegations/ "Delegations"], Conservative Friends of Israel, accessed on 17 December 2010</ref> sometimes with their wives where they were reportedly given access to "senior members of the Israeli political and security establishments"<ref name=obornejones>Peter Oborne and James Jones, [http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/peter-oborne-james-jones/pro-israel-lobby-in-britain-full-text "The pro-Israel lobby in Britain: full text"], OpenDemocracy, 13 November 2009, accessed on 15 December 2010</ref> as well as a meeting with a Palestinian businessman or politician.
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Data from 2006 to 2009 shows that the CFI flew over 30 Conservative parliamentary candidates to Israel on free trips,<ref name=dele>CFI, [http://www2.cfoi.co.uk/Delegations/AboutCFIDelegations/ "Delegations"], Conservative Friends of Israel, accessed on 17 December 2010</ref> sometimes with their wives where they were reportedly given access to "senior members of the Israeli political and security establishments"<ref name=obornejones>Peter Oborne and James Jones, [http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/peter-oborne-james-jones/pro-israel-lobby-in-britain-full-text "The pro-Israel lobby in Britain: full text"], OpenDemocracy, 13 November 2009, accessed on 15 December 2010</ref> as well as a meeting with a Palestinian businessman or politician.
  
 
CFI publicizes this activity in the "Delegations" section of their website and under the statement that it is CFI's aim "that delegates should return, not with all the answers but with more informed questions"<ref name=dele>CFI, [http://www2.cfoi.co.uk/Delegations/AboutCFIDelegations/ "Delegations"], Conservative Friends of Israel, accessed on 17 December 2010</ref> includes statements of appreciation from several MPs, and a prospective parliamentary candidate, Phillip Allot (Halifax), who says:
 
CFI publicizes this activity in the "Delegations" section of their website and under the statement that it is CFI's aim "that delegates should return, not with all the answers but with more informed questions"<ref name=dele>CFI, [http://www2.cfoi.co.uk/Delegations/AboutCFIDelegations/ "Delegations"], Conservative Friends of Israel, accessed on 17 December 2010</ref> includes statements of appreciation from several MPs, and a prospective parliamentary candidate, Phillip Allot (Halifax), who says:
  
 
:The visit has transformed my views about the conflict and I now understand why the security of Israel is so important. Anyone involved in politics should be sent on a compulsory trip to Israel before they are allowed to comment to the media, because there are so many uninformed statements made by politicians, that seem to be little more than works of fiction.<ref name=dele>CFI, [http://www2.cfoi.co.uk/Delegations/AboutCFIDelegations/ "Delegations"], Conservative Friends of Israel, accessed on 17 December 2010</ref>
 
:The visit has transformed my views about the conflict and I now understand why the security of Israel is so important. Anyone involved in politics should be sent on a compulsory trip to Israel before they are allowed to comment to the media, because there are so many uninformed statements made by politicians, that seem to be little more than works of fiction.<ref name=dele>CFI, [http://www2.cfoi.co.uk/Delegations/AboutCFIDelegations/ "Delegations"], Conservative Friends of Israel, accessed on 17 December 2010</ref>
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 +
Mr. [[David Gauke]] (South-West Hertfordshire) also revealed in 2006 during a debate about Britain's Iran Policy that he had recently been flown to Israel by CFI.<ref>BPCIF, [http://iran-freedom.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=1 "David Gauke MP: Iran has an appalling record of exporting terror"], British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom, 1 February 2006, accessed on 22 December 2010</ref>
  
 
===Meeting with American Jewish Committee===
 
===Meeting with American Jewish Committee===
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According to Peter Oborne:
 
According to Peter Oborne:
  
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:Despite the [[Conservative Friends of Israel]] and BICOM not formally merging there is a huge amount of co-ordination. Many of BICOM’s key figures also play roles in the CFI: [[Trevor Pears]], [[Michael Lewis]] and [[Poju Zabludowicz]] are driving forces behind both lobbies. [[David Cameron]] also accepted £20,000 from [[Trevor Pears]] in his leadership election.<ref>Peter Oborne & James Jones, [http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/peter-oborne-james-jones/pro-israel-lobby-in-britain-full-text Inside Britain's Israel Lobby], 13-November-2009, Accessed 03-January-2009</ref>
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:Despite the [[Conservative Friends of Israel]] and [[BICOM]] not formally merging there is a huge amount of co-ordination. Many of BICOM’s key figures also play roles in the CFI: [[Trevor Pears]], [[Michael Lewis]] and [[Poju Zabludowicz]] are driving forces behind both lobbies. [[David Cameron]] also accepted £20,000 from [[Trevor Pears]] in his leadership election.<ref>Peter Oborne & James Jones, [http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/peter-oborne-james-jones/pro-israel-lobby-in-britain-full-text Inside Britain's Israel Lobby], 13-November-2009, Accessed 03-January-2009</ref>
  
 
==People==
 
==People==
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===Parliamentary Group===
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The CFI was created in 1974 and directed until 1989 by [[Michael Fidler]].  In 1989 the current director [[Stuart Polak]] took up the reins. The CFI is well networked across the [[Conservative Party]].  According to its own account:
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*[[James Arbuthnot]] MP, Chairman
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*[[Gillian Shephard]] MP, President
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:'CFI works to promote its twin aims of supporting Israel and promoting Conservatism. With close to 2,000 activists as members – alongside 80% of Tory MPs – CFI is active at every level of the Party.'
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*[[John Butterfill]] MP, co-Vice Chairman
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*[[James Clappison]] MP, co-Vice Chairman
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:'CFI organises numerous events in and around Westminster, takes Conservative parliamentarians and candidates on delegations to Israel, campaigns hard for Tory candidates in target seats, and works to ensure that Israel’s case is fairly represented in Parliament.'<ref>[http://www2.cfoi.co.uk/AboutCFI/Whatwedo/ What We Do], CFI website. Last accessed on 23/08/2014.</ref> 
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*[[Nick Hawkins]] MP, Treasurer
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*[[David Amess]] MP, Secretary
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The table below compiles the officers and staff of the CFI from public records.  Data from 2001-2014 are from the Internet Archive holdings of the CFI website and from Companies House.  Data from prior to 2001 are from press accounts stretching back to 1981 and from archival sources.
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*[[Timothy Kirkhope]] MEP, Chairman of CFI Europe
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===Company directors===
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*[[Liam Fox]]<ref>Nissan Ratzlav-Katz, [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/112986 Conservative Friends of Israel at UK Political Conference], Arutz Sheva, 22 January 2008.</ref>
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{| class="wikitable"
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*[[Tobias Ellwood]]<ref>Nissan Ratzlav-Katz, ibid.</ref>
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! Name<ref>Directors of CFI. Data from Companies House.  The CFI was an unincorporated association between 1974 and 2012.  In 2012 it was registered as a company at Companies House in the UK.</ref> !! Role !! Appointed on !! Resigned on
 +
|-
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| [[Julia Ruth Bekhor]] || Director || 1 April 2022 || –
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|-
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| [[Jeremy Brier]] KC, || Director || 16 May 2022 || –
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|-
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| [[Stuart Polak]] || Director || 21 June 2012 || –
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|-
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| [[ Hilda Rosemary Worth]] || Director || 21 June 2012 || –
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|-
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| [[Andrew Robert Heller]] || Director || 21 June 2012 || 1 April 2022
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|-
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| [[Stephen Leigh Massey]] || Director || 21 June 2012 || 9 November 2022
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|-
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| [[ David Robert Meller]] || Director || 21 June 2012 || 28 November 2014
 +
|}
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===Officers on the Companies House register, November 2026===
 +
The Companies House record for the company (incorporated on 21 June 2012 as a private company limited by guarantee without share capital, registered office 325-327 Oldfield Lane North, Greenford, Middlesex, United Kingdom, UB6 0FX, nature of business "82990 – Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified") lists four current and four resigned directors.<ref name="CFI-CH">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08114952 Conservative Friends of Israel Limited (08114952): company overview], accessed 11 November 2026.</ref><ref name="CFI-Officers">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08114952/officers Conservative Friends of Israel Limited (08114952): officers], accessed 11 November 2026.</ref> The company has no registrable person with significant control; a statement to that effect was notified on 6 April 2016.<ref name="CFI-PSC">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08114952/persons-with-significant-control Conservative Friends of Israel Limited (08114952): persons with significant control], accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|+ Directors of Conservative Friends of Israel Limited (08114952), as listed by Companies House on 11 November 2026
 +
! Name !! Status !! Appointed !! Resigned
 +
|-
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| [[Julia Ruth Bekhor]] || Director (active) || 1 April 2022 || –
 +
|-
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| [[Jeremy Brier]] KC || Director (active) || 16 May 2022 || –
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|-
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| [[Adam Richard Cannon]] || Director (active) || 24 June 2024 || –
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|-
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| [[Stuart Polak]], Lord Polak || Director (active) || 21 June 2012 || –
 +
|-
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| [[Hilda Rosemary Worth]] || Director (resigned) || 21 June 2012 || 1 January 2025
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|-
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| [[Andrew Robert Heller]] || Director (resigned) || 21 June 2012 || 1 April 2022
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|-
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| [[Stephen Leigh Massey]] || Director (resigned) || 21 June 2012 || 9 November 2022
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|-
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| [[David Robert Meller]] || Director (resigned) || 21 June 2012 || 28 November 2014
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|}
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 +
The filing history records four registered-office addresses: C/O Shelley Stock Hunter LLP, 7-10 Chandos Street, London W1G 9DG (until 15 January 2018); C/O Blick Rothenberg Limited, 1st Floor, 7-10 Chandos Street, London W1G 9DQ (15 January 2018 to 26 February 2021); 16 Great Queen Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5AH (26 February 2021 to 23 November 2023); and 325-327 Oldfield Lane North, Greenford, Middlesex UB6 0FX (since 23 November 2023).<ref name="CFI-Filings">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08114952/filing-history Conservative Friends of Israel Limited (08114952): filing history], including the registered-office changes of 15 January 2018, 26 February 2021 and 23 November 2023 and the accounts filed on 19 April 2024, 16 September 2024, 21 October 2025 and 15 October 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
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===Staff and advisors===
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<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" border="1" float="right" align="right" width="50%">
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<tr>
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<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="80%" colspan = "3">Officers and staff of Conservative Friends of Israel (2001 - 2014)<ref>Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Conservative Friends of Israel website, 2001-2014; Companies House (2012-14)</ref></th>
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 +
            <!-- Merged Columns -->
 +
</tr>
 +
 
 +
<tr>
 +
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="15%">Name</th>
 +
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="25%">Status</th>
 +
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="10%">Years appointed</th>
 +
 
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr>
 +
 
 +
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="80%" colspan = "3">CFI Staff<ref>Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Conservative Friends of Israel website, 2001-2014</ref></th>
 +
 
 +
            <!-- Merged Columns -->
 +
</tr>
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<tr><td>[[Sedef Akademir]]</td><td>Research and Events Officer</td><td align="center">2014</td>
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<tr><td>[[Joshua Burg]]</td><td>Research Assistant</td><td align="center">2007</td>
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<tr><td>[[Michael Fidler]]</td><td>Director</td><td align="center">1974-1989</td>
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<tr><td>[[James Gurd]]</td><td>Parliamentary Officer<br>Parliamentary Manager</td><td align="center">2011 - 2013<br>2014</td>
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<tr><td>[[Robert Halfon]]</td><td>Politcal Director</td><td align="center">2005 - 2008</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Stefan Kerner]]</td><td>Deputy Director</td><td align="center">2003 - 2005<ref>According to his own account Kerner was Deputy director from February 2003 to May 2005.(Linked In [http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/stefan-kerner/5/4a0/906 Stefan Kerner]. Accessed 25 August 2014.) Internet Archive records show that he was listed as such on the CFI website on 7 April 2005.(CFI [ About Us>People>CFI Staff]. Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 7 April 2005 on 25 August 2014.)  Previous records from the CFI site (February 2003 to 6 March 2005) do not list Kerner or a Deputy Director position.(Internet Archive [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.cfoi.co.uk Holdings of cfoi.co.uk]. Accessed 25 August 2014).</ref></td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Victoria Kluk]]</td><td>Research Manager</td><td align="center">2005 - 2007</td>
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<tr><td>[[Stephanie Leven]]</td><td>Assistant to Director<br>Projects Director</td><td align="center">2003 - 2004<br>2005 - 2011</td>
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<tr><td>[[Tanya Murkes]]</td><td>Israel Liason</td><td align="center">2013 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Charlotte Polak]]</td><td>Membership Secretary</td><td align="center">2002 - 2008</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Stuart Polak]]</td><td>Director</td><td align="center">1989 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Leetal Stark]]</td><td>Projects Assistant<br>Projects Manager</td><td align="center">2011 - 2013<br>2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Natalie Tamam]]</td><td>Research Manager<br>Politcal Director<br>Deputy Director</td><td align="center">2008 - 2010<br>2011 - 2012<br>2013 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Julie Tamir]]</td><td>Secretary</td><td align="center">2005 - 2010</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Sasha Wien]]</td><td>Assistant to Director</td><td align="center">2001 - 2002</td>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
            <!-- Merged Columns -->
 +
 
 +
<tr><th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="80%" colspan = "3">CFI Executive Board<ref>Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Conservative Friends of Israel website, 2001-2014</ref></th>
 +
 
 +
<tr><td>[[Lance Anisfeld]]</td><td>Chairman<br>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2006<br>2007 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Andrew Brecher]]</td><td>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2013 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Lorraine da Costa]]</td><td>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2010 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Jonathan Gough]]</td><td>Chairman<br>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2006<br>2007 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Richard Harrington]]</td><td>Chairman</td><td align="center">2005 - 2008</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Andrew Heller]]</td><td>Hon. Treasurer<br>Chairman</td><td align="center">2005 - 2008<br>2010 - 2012</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Alan Howard]]</td><td>Chairman<br>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2006<br>2007 - 2008</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Steven Kaye]]</td><td>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2007 - 2010</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Edward Lee]]</td><td>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2010 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Howard Leigh]]</td><td>Hon. Treasurer<br>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2005 - 2006<br>2007 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Stephen Massey]]</td><td>Hon. Treasurer<br>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2005 - 2006<br>2007 - 2012</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[David Meller]]</td><td>Hon. Treasurer<br>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2005 - 2006<br>2007 - 2012</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Jonathan Metliss]]</td><td>Hon. Treasurer<br>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2005 - 2006<br>2007 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Gary Mond]]</td><td>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2010 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Hilton Nathanson]]</td><td>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2007 - 2008</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Stephan Shakespeare]]</td><td>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2007 - 2008</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Gillian Shephard]]</td><td>Chairman</td><td align="center">2001 - 2004</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Barry Welck]]</td><td>Hon. Treasurer<br>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2005 - 2006<br>2007 - 2010</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Hilda Worth]]</td><td>Hon. Treasurer<br>Executive Board</td><td align="center">2005 - 2006<br>2007 - 2010</td>
 +
 
 +
<tr>
 +
 
 +
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="80%" colspan = "3">Honorary Officers of CFI<ref>Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Conservative Friends of Israel website, 2001-2014</ref></th>
 +
 
 +
            <!-- Merged Columns -->
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[Stanley Cohen]]</td><td>Hon. Secretary<br>Vice Chairman</td><td align="center">2001 - 2006<br>2007 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Jeremy Galbraith]]</td><td>Vice Chairman</td><td align="center">2001 - 2008</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[Betty Geller]]</td><td>Vice Chairman</td><td align="center">2001 - 2012</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[Richard Harrington]]</td><td>Treasurer</td><td align="center">2003 - 2004</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[Michael Heller]]</td><td>Hon. Secretary<br>Vice Chairman</td><td align="center">2001 - 2006<br>2007 - 2014</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[Peter Lane]]</td><td>Vice President</td><td align="center">2001 - 2008</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[Michael Latham]]</td><td>Vice President</td><td align="center">2001 - 2014</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[David Meller]]</td><td>Treasurer and Deputy Chairman<br>Deputy Chairman</td><td align="center">2001 - 2002<br>2003 - 2004</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[Jonathan Metliss]]</td><td>Hon. Secretary</td><td align="center">2003 - 2004</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[Timothy Sainsbury]]</td><td>President<br>Vice President</td><td align="center">2001 - 2004<br>2005 - 2014</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[Charles Sanderson]]</td><td>Vice President</td><td align="center">2001 - 2014</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[Gillian Shephard]]</td><td>President</td><td align="center">2005 - 2014</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[Leonard Steinberg]]</td><td>Vice President</td><td align="center">2003 - 2008</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[John Taylor]]</td><td>Vice Chairman</td><td align="center">2001 - 2010</td></tr><tr>
 +
<tr><td>[[Peter Thomas]]</td><td>Vice President</td><td align="center">2001 - 2008</td></tr><tr>
  
−
===Officers Of CFI===
+
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="80%" colspan = "3">Parliamentary Group<ref>Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Conservative Friends of Israel website, 2001-2014</ref></th>
−
====Vice Chairmen====  
+
<tr><td>[[David Amess]] MP</td><td>Secretary<br>Officer</td><td align="center">2001 - 2010<br>2011 - 2014</td>
−
*[[Jeremy Galbraith]] | [[Betty Geller]] | [[John Taylor]] CBE | [[Alistair Burt]] MP, <ref> Etgar Lefkovits, [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225910067025&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull UK MPs call for Europe-wide campaign to pressure Red Cross concerning Schalit], Jerusalem Post, 9 November 2008.</ref>
+
<tr><td>[[James Arbuthnot]] MP</td><td>Chairman</td><td align="center">2005 - 2012</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[David Burrowes]] MP</td><td>Officer</td><td align="center">2011 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Alistair Burt]] MP</td><td>Officer</td><td align="center">2007 - 2011</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[John Butterfill]] MP</td><td>Vice Chairman</td><td align="center">2001 - 2010</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[James Clappison]] MP</td><td>Vice Chairman<br>Chairman</td><td align="center">2001 - 2013<br>2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Robert Halfon]] MP</td><td>Officer</td><td align="center">2011 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Nick Hawkins]] MP</td><td>Treasurer</td><td align="center">2001 - 2006</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Timothy Kirkhope]] MEP</td><td>Chairman of CFI Europe</td><td align="center">2006 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Priti Patel]] MP</td><td>Officer</td><td align="center">2011 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Lee Scott]] MP</td><td>Officer</td><td align="center">2007 - 2014</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Gillian Shephard]] MP</td><td>Chairman</td><td align="center">2001 - 2004</td>
 +
<tr><td>[[Theresa Villiers]] MP</td><td>Officer</td><td align="center">2007 - 2010</td>
 +
</table>
  
−
====Hon Secretaries====
+
==Company accounts and staffing, 2022–2026==
−
*[[Stanley Cohen]] | [[Michael Heller]]
+
The company's accounts for the years to 31 July 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 were filed as "total exemption full accounts" under the small companies regime. Each set states that "the directors of the company have elected not to include a copy of the income statement within the financial statements", so the filings show assets, liabilities and average staff numbers but not income, donations or expenditure.<ref name="CFI-Accts">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08114952/filing-history Conservative Friends of Israel Limited (08114952): filing history], total exemption full accounts made up to 31 July 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 (iXBRL filings; each set gives the prior-year figures), accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
  
−
====Vice Presidents====
+
{| class="wikitable"
−
*[[Lord Lane of Horsell]] | [[Michael Latham]] DL | [[Timothy Sainsbury]] | [[Lord Sanderson of Bowden]] | [[Lord Steinberg]] | [[Lord Thomas of Gwydir]] QC
+
|+ Conservative Friends of Israel Limited: balance sheet at 31 July and average monthly employees (including directors), 2022–2026
 +
! Year ended 31 July !! Fixed assets (£) !! Debtors (£) !! Cash at bank (£) !! Creditors due within one year (£) !! Net assets (£) !! Average employees
 +
|-
 +
| 2022 || 211,221 || 38,088 || 430,291 || 153,169 || 526,431 || 10
 +
|-
 +
| 2023 || 375,085 || 52,850 || 191,163 || 40,282 || 578,816 || 9
 +
|-
 +
| 2024 || 341,571 || 70,133 || 533,504 || 13,535 || 931,673 || 10
 +
|-
 +
| 2025 || 407,366 || 52,303 || 396,003 || 22,269 || 833,403 || 9
 +
|-
 +
| 2026 || 325,211 || 19,950 || 601,081 || 25,540 || 920,702 || 7
 +
|}
  
−
===CFI Executive Board===
+
Fixed assets are mainly "other investments other than loans" (£321,433 at 31 July 2026; £402,329 a year earlier) plus small tangible assets (£3,778 at 31 July 2026). The 2022 figures are the prior-year comparatives in the accounts for the year to 31 July 2023; the other years are as filed.<ref name="CFI-Accts" />
−
*Chairman: [[Richard Harrington]]
 
−
*Hon Treasurer:[[Richard Harrington]]
 
−
*[[Lance Anisfeld]]
 
−
*[[Jonathan Gough]]
 
−
*[[Alan Howard]] was listed as an executive board member in 2007<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070808054621/http://www.cfoi.co.uk/articles.aspx?cid=1 About Us], CFI website, version dated 8 Aug 2007, accessed in web archive 7 Oct 2009</ref> and 2008<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080506170446/http://www.cfoi.co.uk/articles.aspx?cid=1 About Us], CFI website, version dated 6 May 2008, accessed in web archive 7 Oct 2009</ref>
 
−
*[[Andrew Heller]]
 
−
*[[Howard Leigh]]
 
−
*[[Stephen Massey]]
 
−
*[[David Meller]]
 
−
*[[Jonathan Metliss]]
 
−
*[[Barry Welck]]
 
  
−
===CFI Staff 2010===  
+
==Parliamentary leadership and delegations, 2025–26==
 +
===Parliamentary leadership===
 +
CFI's history page says that the group was founded in 1974 by [[Michael Fidler]], a former MP for Bury and Radcliffe (1970–1974), and that [[Stuart Polak]] became Director after Fidler's death in 1989, "was later awarded a CBE and life peerage by David Cameron" and "now serves as CFI's Honorary President". It lists the CFI leadership team at the 2025 Annual Business Lunch as directors [[Jeremy Brier]] KC, [[Julia Ruth Bekhor]], [[Adam Richard Cannon]] and Lord Polak, and records that Conservative leader [[Kemi Badenoch]] spoke at that lunch.<ref name="CFI-Hist">Conservative Friends of Israel, [https://www.cfoi.co.uk/history/ History], accessed 11 November 2026.</ref> On its delegations page the group describes [[Greg Smith (politician)]] MP as "CFI Chair (Commons)" and [[Eric Pickles]], Lord Pickles, as "CFI's Chair in the House of Lords".<ref name="CFI-Del">Conservative Friends of Israel, [https://www.cfoi.co.uk/delegations/ Delegations], accessed 11 November 2026.</ref> Smith's own entry in the Commons register records that he became Vice Chairman of the Conservative Friends of Israel Parliamentary Board on 1 May 2025 and Chairman on 27 January 2026, an unpaid role.<ref name="GS-Chair">UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, [https://interests-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Interests/12526 entry 12526]: entry for Greg Smith MP, "Chairman Conservative Friends of Israel Parliamentary Board", accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
  
−
*Accessed December 2010<ref>CFI, [http://www2.cfoi.co.uk/AboutCFI/ "About CFI"], Conservative Friends of Israel, accessed on 15 December 2010</ref>
+
===CFI's own description===
 +
CFI's website says that for "over 50 years" it has "played a key role in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the UK and Israel" and "works to build mutual understanding and friendship between the Conservative Party and Israel's diverse political landscape". It says it is "dedicated to ensuring Israel's case is fairly represented in Parliament" and that it organises delegations to Israel for Conservative parliamentarians and candidates, hosts briefing events and provides information "on developments in the Middle East".<ref name="CFI-About">Conservative Friends of Israel, [https://www.cfoi.co.uk/about/ About], accessed 11 November 2026.</ref> The delegations page says CFI "has taken hundreds of Conservative MPs to Israel" and that visits "typically include high-level briefings with the IDF, security experts and journalists, as well as meetings with senior Israeli and Palestinian politicians".<ref name="CFI-Del" />
  
−
*[[Stuart Polak]] - Director, (1989 - )<ref name=jc>Jewish Chronicle, [http://www.thejc.com/jc-power-100/the-jc-power-100-numbers-81-90 "The JC Power 100: Numbers 81 - 90"], Jewish Chronicle, 5 September 2008, accessed on 16 December 2010</ref>
+
===Lord Polak and the September 2017 meetings===
−
*[[Nathalie Tamam]] - Political Director
+
Reporting the resignation of Priti Patel as international development secretary on 8 November 2017, the BBC said she had met the Israeli public security minister Gilad Erdan in Westminster on 7 September 2017 and the foreign ministry official Yuval Rotem in New York on 18 September 2017, and that "it is thought Lord Polak, honorary president of the Conservative Friends of Israel, was present at both meetings".<ref name="BBC-Patel-2017">BBC News, [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-41923007 Priti Patel quits cabinet over Israel meetings row], 8 November 2017, accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
−
*[[Stephanie Leven]] - Projects Director
 
−
*[[James Gurd]] - Parliamentary Officer
 
−
*[[Leetal Stark]] - Projects Assistant
 
  
−
===CFI Staff===  
+
===Delegations and hospitality recorded in the Commons register===
−
*Director: [[Stuart Polak]]
+
The House of Commons Register of Members' Financial Interests records the following trips and hospitality paid for by CFI, as registered between December 2025 and October 2026. Values are as declared by each member.
−
*Projects Director: [[Stephanie Leven]]
+
 
−
*Political Director: [[Robert Halfon]]
+
{| class="wikitable sortable"
−
*Research Manager: [[Victoria Kluk]]
+
|+ Conservative Friends of Israel: visits and hospitality registered by MPs, 2025–26
−
*Secretary: [[Julie Tamir]]
+
! Member !! Dates !! Destination !! Declared value (£) !! Registered !! Register description
−
*Membership Secretary: [[Charlotte Polak]]
+
|-
 +
| [[Priti Patel]] || 21–25 November 2025 || Israel || 6,324 || 19 December 2025 || Accommodation (£460) and transport and tour guide (£1,130) for Patel (£1,590); flights, accommodation and transport for two staff members (£2,367 each)<ref name="Reg-PP">UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, [https://interests-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Interests/14182 entry 14182]: Priti Patel, visit to Israel, 21–25 November 2025, accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
 +
|-
 +
| [[Sarah Bool]] || 4–8 January 2026 || Israel and Palestine || 3,200 || 18 January 2026 || Air travel, accommodation and hospitality<ref name="Reg-SB">UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, [https://interests-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Interests/14346 entry 14346]: Sarah Bool, visit to Israel, 4–8 January 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
 +
|-
 +
| [[Gareth Bacon]] || 4–9 January 2026 || Israel and the Palestinian Authority || 3,200 || 15 January 2026 || Air travel, accommodation and hospitality<ref name="Reg-GB">UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, [https://interests-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Interests/14339 entry 14339]: Gareth Bacon, visit to Israel, 4–9 January 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
 +
|-
 +
| [[Paul Holmes (Hamble Valley)|Paul Holmes]] || 4–9 January 2026 || Israel and Palestine || 3,200 || 26 January 2026 || Flights, accommodation and hospitality<ref name="Reg-PH">UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, [https://interests-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Interests/14408 entry 14408]: Paul Holmes, visit to Israel, 4–9 January 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
 +
|-
 +
| [[Greg Smith (politician)]] || 4–9 January 2026 || Israel and Palestine || 3,200 || 28 January 2026 || Air travel, accommodation and hospitality<ref name="Reg-GS">UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, [https://interests-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Interests/14431 entry 14431]: Greg Smith, visit to Israel, 4–9 January 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
 +
|-
 +
| [[Peter Fortune]] || 4–9 January 2026 || Israel and Palestine || 3,200 || 24 February 2026 || Air travel, accommodation and hospitality<ref name="Reg-PF">UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, [https://interests-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Interests/14610 entry 14610]: Peter Fortune, visit to Israel, 4–9 January 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
 +
|-
 +
| [[Greg Smith (politician)]] || 4–7 October 2026 || United Kingdom (hospitality) || 863 || 30 October 2026 || Three nights' accommodation and dinner for Smith and a family member<ref name="Reg-GS-Oct">UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, [https://interests-api.parliament.uk/api/v1/Interests/17399 entry 17399]: Greg Smith, gifts, benefits and hospitality, Conservative Friends of Israel Ltd, £863, accessed 11 November 2026.</ref>
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
The register gives CFI's address as PO Box 72288, London SW1P 9LB and, in Smith's October 2026 entry, identifies the donor as a company, Conservative Friends of Israel Ltd, with Companies House number 08114952. The Register records the Patel entry as not solely for her benefit because it covers two accompanying staff members.
 +
 
 +
==Resources==
 +
*James Jones and Peter Oborne, [https://web.archive.org/web/20091122073906/http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/D/dispatches/israel/proisraellobbypamphlet.pdf The Pro Israel Lobby in Britain], Channel 4 pamphlet, 2009.
  
 
==Contact==
 
==Contact==
Line 116: Line 301:
 
*'''E-mail:''' info@cfoi.co.uk
 
*'''E-mail:''' info@cfoi.co.uk
 
*'''Website:''' http://www.cfoi.co.uk
 
*'''Website:''' http://www.cfoi.co.uk
 +
*'''Blogs:''' http://www2.cfoi.co.uk/Blogs/
 +
:Company number: 08114952
 +
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 
[[Category:Israel Lobby]][[Category:Conservative Party]]
 
[[Category:Israel Lobby]][[Category:Conservative Party]]

Latest revision as of 13:37, 11 November 2026

Lobby group within the UK Conservative Party, founded in 1974; a company limited by guarantee since 2012

Conservative Friends of Israel

Logo 200
Type Political lobby group (private company limited by guarantee)
Founded 1974
Founder(s) Michael Fidler
Registration ID 08114952 (Companies House)
Status Active
Headquarters 325-327 Oldfield Lane North, Greenford, Middlesex, United Kingdom, UB6 0FX
Location London, United Kingdom
Area served United Kingdom; Israel
Services Delegations to Israel for Conservative parliamentarians and candidates; briefings
Registration England and Wales (company)
Key people Stuart Polak (director; Honorary President)
Eric Pickles (Chair in the House of Lords)
Greg Smith (politician) (Chair, Parliamentary Board)
Website https://www.cfoi.co.uk/

Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) is one of the most active lobby groups in Westminster; It claims that 80 per cent of all Conservative MPs are members,[1] though compared with other British lobbies the group has so far received little press coverage.[2] According to a 2009 documentary on Channel Four’s Dispatches program called Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby,[3] donations to the Conservative party "from all CFI members and their businesses add up to well over £10m over the last eight years". CFI has disputed the figure and called the film "deeply flawed".[4]

Origins and development

As support for Israel in the Labour Party waned during the ‘70s and ‘80s, support within the Conservative Party meanwhile began to grow. In the 1970s, the ascendant Tory right wing came increasingly to see Israel as a military and strategic asset for ‘the West’, whilst politics in Israel began to shift to the right. Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI), which was founded in 1974, both reflected and strengthened this trend.

It was established by the Conservative politician Michael Fidler, who was described by his biographer as having had extreme political views ‘reminiscent of the philosophy of Enoch Powell’.[5] Over 80 MPs joined the new group, including Margaret Thatcher, who was soon to become party leader, and within a year CFI had a larger membership than Labour Friends
 of Israel.[6]

By 1978 it was the largest political lobby in Parliament.[7] According to conservative journalist Peter Oborne, it is now ‘beyond doubt the best connected, and probably the best funded, of all Westminster lobbying groups'[8] and is said to include around 80 per cent of Tory MPs as members.[9] Like its Labour counterpart, Conservative Friends of Israel organises events in Parliament and free trips to Israel for Parliamentarians. It is also thought to organise financial patronage for prospective MPs from wealthy Zionists. [8] BICOM’s Public Affairs Manager, Stefan Kerner, is a former deputy director of Conservative Friends of Israel[10] and according to Peter Oborne there is ‘a huge amount of co-ordination’ between BICOM and Conservative Friends of Israel: ‘Many of BICOM’s key figures also play roles in the CFI: Trevor Pears, Michael Lewis and Poju Zabludowicz are driving forces behind both lobbies.'[8]

Since 1989 CFI has been headed by Stuart Polak, who also runs the lobbying firm, The Westminster Connection. Clients of this ‘political consultancy’ include the Israeli defence company, Elbit Systems, the British chair of which, retired General Richard Applegate, was secretly recorded in 2012 saying that Elbit had ‘piggy back[ed]’ on Conservative Friends of Israel to ‘gain access to particular decision makers’.[9]

Parliamentary donations

CFI operates as an "unincorporated association", which according to Peter Oborne means:

It is a collection of individuals who don’t need to open their books, it may be legal but it’s hardly transparent.[11]

Peter Oborne argues that there is a pattern of donations from CFI:

On studying donations to Conservative Constituency offices before the 2005 election a pattern emerges. A group of donors, all with strong connections to pro-Israel groups, (almost all are on the board of the CFI) made donations of between £2,000 and £5,000 either personally or through their companies to the constituency offices of certain Conservative candidates. The donors involved include Trevor Pears, a property magnate, who has sat on the BICOM board, used to sit on the CFI board, and has donated to David Cameron in the past; Lord Leonard Steinberg, vice- president of Conservative Friends of Israel and sponsor of Stuart Polak in parliament; Michael Lewis, a South African businessman and deputy chairman of BICOM who was formerly on the Board of CFI; three or four other prominent members of the CFI.
The method of donation – medium-sized sums to constituency offices often through companies rather than personal names – means that connections to the CFI or other pro-Israel group are by no means obvious. These donors may never have met the candidates, nor stepped foot, let alone actually live, in the constituency, but were happy to make donations. All candidates in these constituencies either won the seat or came close. Interestingly, in constituencies where the Conservative candidate stood little chance, the CFI made the £2,000 donation themselves.
The Tory MPs fighting parliamentary seats in 2005 whose campaigns were funded by these donors included Ed Vaizey, shadow minister for culture, media and sport; Greg Hands, shadow treasury minister; Michael Gove, shadow education secretary; Brooks Newmark, opposition foreign affairs whip; Shailesh Vara, shadow deputy leader of the Commons; Grant Shapps, shadow minister for housing; Adam Holloway MP.
Many of them then went on a CFI trip to Israel in 2006, although Michael Gove - whose polemic Celsius 7/7 comes free with CFI membership - has never been to Israel. Most have been supportive of Israel in speeches to parliament and none have been overtly critical. There is also a suggestion that some members of the CFI target MPs who are critical of Israel. For instance Karen Buck, the Labour MP for Regent’s Park and Kensington North, has been an outspoken critic. Her Conservative opponent Joanne Cash, who works for the think tank Policy Exchange, has received cheques cumulatively worth at least £20,000.[12]

Relations with David Cameron

According to a report in the Jewish Chronicle:

a small but influential group of Jewish Conservative officials and politicians were... key players in Mr Cameron’s campaign for the leadership. Among them was party treasurer Howard Leigh. Other senior figures around the leader include Oliver Letwin, head of policy [and] former shadow Home Secretary and shadow Chancellor. Although he is popular with Jewish Tories, Mr Cameron’s criticism of Israel’s actions in Lebanon sparked doubts – voiced particularly by Tory donor and former party treasurer Lord Kalms. However, Conservative Friends of Israel chair Richard Harrington stressed that the leader had given CFI “every possible access” and had met CFI officials several times.[13]

In July 2010, CFI took issue with Cameron, who during a visit to Turkey stressed that 'Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp'.[14]

David Cameron CFI Speech 2009

David Cameron was the main speaker at the Conservative Friends of Israel annual lunch on the 18 June 2009.[15] Cameron neglected to mention that six months prior to his speech, Israel began a 23-day bombardment of Gaza that led to the deaths of around 1,400 people including hundreds of children.[16] Not only did David Cameron neglect to mention the “operation cast lead” bombardment of Gaza but he described how “Israel strives to protect innocent life – Hamas target innocent life”.[17] The Conservative Party leader emphasised the need for the Palestinians to relinquish the use of violence arguing that:

“for the Palestinians themselves, their obligations are clear: Prove you are a reliable negotiating partner. Bring order to your own society. And renounce violence completely”.[18]

Lobbying activities

Flying Conservative parliamentary candidates to Israel

Data from 2006 to 2009 shows that the CFI flew over 30 Conservative parliamentary candidates to Israel on free trips,[19] sometimes with their wives where they were reportedly given access to "senior members of the Israeli political and security establishments"[2] as well as a meeting with a Palestinian businessman or politician.

CFI publicizes this activity in the "Delegations" section of their website and under the statement that it is CFI's aim "that delegates should return, not with all the answers but with more informed questions"[19] includes statements of appreciation from several MPs, and a prospective parliamentary candidate, Phillip Allot (Halifax), who says:

The visit has transformed my views about the conflict and I now understand why the security of Israel is so important. Anyone involved in politics should be sent on a compulsory trip to Israel before they are allowed to comment to the media, because there are so many uninformed statements made by politicians, that seem to be little more than works of fiction.[19]

Mr. David Gauke (South-West Hertfordshire) also revealed in 2006 during a debate about Britain's Iran Policy that he had recently been flown to Israel by CFI.[20]

Meeting with American Jewish Committee

In 2006, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) reported on a meeting with the Conservative Friends of Israel in 'an effort to strengthen AJC’s ties to British Jewry'.

The AJC report states that:

'AJC President E Robert Goodkind led a leadership delegation to London to meet with the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the main community organizing body for British Jews, as well as with the Community Service Trust and the newly formed Jewish Leadership Council. The group also met with British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, longtime Jewish community leaders Lord Greville Janner and Sir Trevor Chinn, and with leadership from the Reform, Liberal and Conservative Masorti movements. In addition, the group held meetings with those Members of Parliament who initiated a serious parliamentary investigation of anti-Semitism, and with younger leaders of Conservative Friends of Israel and Labour Friends of Israel. AJC Board members Stanley Bergman and Peter Rosenblatt joined Goodkind on the mission.[21]

Donations

According to Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby,[3] CFI board members made personal donations totaling tens of thousands of pounds to William Hague after he was appointed shadow foreign secretary.

Ian Black of the Guardian also notes that the film reveals £30,000 from CFI supporters went to the campaign funds of members of David Cameron's team who were first elected in 2005.[4]

Conservative Friends of Israel/BICOM Links

According to Peter Oborne:

Despite the Conservative Friends of Israel and BICOM not formally merging there is a huge amount of co-ordination. Many of BICOM’s key figures also play roles in the CFI: Trevor Pears, Michael Lewis and Poju Zabludowicz are driving forces behind both lobbies. David Cameron also accepted £20,000 from Trevor Pears in his leadership election.[22]

People

The CFI was created in 1974 and directed until 1989 by Michael Fidler. In 1989 the current director Stuart Polak took up the reins. The CFI is well networked across the Conservative Party. According to its own account:

'CFI works to promote its twin aims of supporting Israel and promoting Conservatism. With close to 2,000 activists as members – alongside 80% of Tory MPs – CFI is active at every level of the Party.'
'CFI organises numerous events in and around Westminster, takes Conservative parliamentarians and candidates on delegations to Israel, campaigns hard for Tory candidates in target seats, and works to ensure that Israel’s case is fairly represented in Parliament.'[23]

The table below compiles the officers and staff of the CFI from public records. Data from 2001-2014 are from the Internet Archive holdings of the CFI website and from Companies House. Data from prior to 2001 are from press accounts stretching back to 1981 and from archival sources.

Company directors

Name[24] Role Appointed on Resigned on
Julia Ruth Bekhor Director 1 April 2022 –
Jeremy Brier KC, Director 16 May 2022 –
Stuart Polak Director 21 June 2012 –
Hilda Rosemary Worth Director 21 June 2012 –
Andrew Robert Heller Director 21 June 2012 1 April 2022
Stephen Leigh Massey Director 21 June 2012 9 November 2022
David Robert Meller Director 21 June 2012 28 November 2014

Officers on the Companies House register, November 2026

The Companies House record for the company (incorporated on 21 June 2012 as a private company limited by guarantee without share capital, registered office 325-327 Oldfield Lane North, Greenford, Middlesex, United Kingdom, UB6 0FX, nature of business "82990 – Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified") lists four current and four resigned directors.[25][26] The company has no registrable person with significant control; a statement to that effect was notified on 6 April 2016.[27]

Directors of Conservative Friends of Israel Limited (08114952), as listed by Companies House on 11 November 2026
Name Status Appointed Resigned
Julia Ruth Bekhor Director (active) 1 April 2022 –
Jeremy Brier KC Director (active) 16 May 2022 –
Adam Richard Cannon Director (active) 24 June 2024 –
Stuart Polak, Lord Polak Director (active) 21 June 2012 –
Hilda Rosemary Worth Director (resigned) 21 June 2012 1 January 2025
Andrew Robert Heller Director (resigned) 21 June 2012 1 April 2022
Stephen Leigh Massey Director (resigned) 21 June 2012 9 November 2022
David Robert Meller Director (resigned) 21 June 2012 28 November 2014

The filing history records four registered-office addresses: C/O Shelley Stock Hunter LLP, 7-10 Chandos Street, London W1G 9DG (until 15 January 2018); C/O Blick Rothenberg Limited, 1st Floor, 7-10 Chandos Street, London W1G 9DQ (15 January 2018 to 26 February 2021); 16 Great Queen Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5AH (26 February 2021 to 23 November 2023); and 325-327 Oldfield Lane North, Greenford, Middlesex UB6 0FX (since 23 November 2023).[28]

Staff and advisors


Officers and staff of Conservative Friends of Israel (2001 - 2014)[29]
Name Status Years appointed
CFI Staff[30]
Sedef AkademirResearch and Events Officer2014
Joshua BurgResearch Assistant2007
Michael FidlerDirector1974-1989
James GurdParliamentary Officer
Parliamentary Manager		2011 - 2013
2014
Robert HalfonPolitcal Director2005 - 2008
Stefan KernerDeputy Director2003 - 2005[31]
Victoria KlukResearch Manager2005 - 2007
Stephanie LevenAssistant to Director
Projects Director		2003 - 2004
2005 - 2011
Tanya MurkesIsrael Liason2013 - 2014
Charlotte PolakMembership Secretary2002 - 2008
Stuart PolakDirector1989 - 2014
Leetal StarkProjects Assistant
Projects Manager		2011 - 2013
2014
Natalie TamamResearch Manager
Politcal Director
Deputy Director		2008 - 2010
2011 - 2012
2013 - 2014
Julie TamirSecretary2005 - 2010
Sasha WienAssistant to Director2001 - 2002
CFI Executive Board[32]
Lance AnisfeldChairman
Executive Board		2006
2007 - 2014
Andrew BrecherExecutive Board2013 - 2014
Lorraine da CostaExecutive Board2010 - 2014
Jonathan GoughChairman
Executive Board		2006
2007 - 2014
Richard HarringtonChairman2005 - 2008
Andrew HellerHon. Treasurer
Chairman		2005 - 2008
2010 - 2012
Alan HowardChairman
Executive Board		2006
2007 - 2008
Steven KayeExecutive Board2007 - 2010
Edward LeeExecutive Board2010 - 2014
Howard LeighHon. Treasurer
Executive Board		2005 - 2006
2007 - 2014
Stephen MasseyHon. Treasurer
Executive Board		2005 - 2006
2007 - 2012
David MellerHon. Treasurer
Executive Board		2005 - 2006
2007 - 2012
Jonathan MetlissHon. Treasurer
Executive Board		2005 - 2006
2007 - 2014
Gary MondExecutive Board2010 - 2014
Hilton NathansonExecutive Board2007 - 2008
Stephan ShakespeareExecutive Board2007 - 2008
Gillian ShephardChairman2001 - 2004
Barry WelckHon. Treasurer
Executive Board		2005 - 2006
2007 - 2010
Hilda WorthHon. Treasurer
Executive Board		2005 - 2006
2007 - 2010
Honorary Officers of CFI[33]
Stanley CohenHon. Secretary
Vice Chairman		2001 - 2006
2007 - 2014
Jeremy GalbraithVice Chairman2001 - 2008
Betty GellerVice Chairman2001 - 2012
Richard HarringtonTreasurer2003 - 2004
Michael HellerHon. Secretary
Vice Chairman		2001 - 2006
2007 - 2014
Peter LaneVice President2001 - 2008
Michael LathamVice President2001 - 2014
David MellerTreasurer and Deputy Chairman
Deputy Chairman		2001 - 2002
2003 - 2004
Jonathan MetlissHon. Secretary2003 - 2004
Timothy SainsburyPresident
Vice President		2001 - 2004
2005 - 2014
Charles SandersonVice President2001 - 2014
Gillian ShephardPresident2005 - 2014
Leonard SteinbergVice President2003 - 2008
John TaylorVice Chairman2001 - 2010
Peter ThomasVice President2001 - 2008
Parliamentary Group[34]
David Amess MPSecretary
Officer		2001 - 2010
2011 - 2014
James Arbuthnot MPChairman2005 - 2012
David Burrowes MPOfficer2011 - 2014
Alistair Burt MPOfficer2007 - 2011
John Butterfill MPVice Chairman2001 - 2010
James Clappison MPVice Chairman
Chairman		2001 - 2013
2014
Robert Halfon MPOfficer2011 - 2014
Nick Hawkins MPTreasurer2001 - 2006
Timothy Kirkhope MEPChairman of CFI Europe2006 - 2014
Priti Patel MPOfficer2011 - 2014
Lee Scott MPOfficer2007 - 2014
Gillian Shephard MPChairman2001 - 2004
Theresa Villiers MPOfficer2007 - 2010

Company accounts and staffing, 2022–2026

The company's accounts for the years to 31 July 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 were filed as "total exemption full accounts" under the small companies regime. Each set states that "the directors of the company have elected not to include a copy of the income statement within the financial statements", so the filings show assets, liabilities and average staff numbers but not income, donations or expenditure.[35]

Conservative Friends of Israel Limited: balance sheet at 31 July and average monthly employees (including directors), 2022–2026
Year ended 31 July Fixed assets (£) Debtors (£) Cash at bank (£) Creditors due within one year (£) Net assets (£) Average employees
2022 211,221 38,088 430,291 153,169 526,431 10
2023 375,085 52,850 191,163 40,282 578,816 9
2024 341,571 70,133 533,504 13,535 931,673 10
2025 407,366 52,303 396,003 22,269 833,403 9
2026 325,211 19,950 601,081 25,540 920,702 7

Fixed assets are mainly "other investments other than loans" (£321,433 at 31 July 2026; £402,329 a year earlier) plus small tangible assets (£3,778 at 31 July 2026). The 2022 figures are the prior-year comparatives in the accounts for the year to 31 July 2023; the other years are as filed.[35]

Parliamentary leadership and delegations, 2025–26

Parliamentary leadership

CFI's history page says that the group was founded in 1974 by Michael Fidler, a former MP for Bury and Radcliffe (1970–1974), and that Stuart Polak became Director after Fidler's death in 1989, "was later awarded a CBE and life peerage by David Cameron" and "now serves as CFI's Honorary President". It lists the CFI leadership team at the 2025 Annual Business Lunch as directors Jeremy Brier KC, Julia Ruth Bekhor, Adam Richard Cannon and Lord Polak, and records that Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch spoke at that lunch.[36] On its delegations page the group describes Greg Smith (politician) MP as "CFI Chair (Commons)" and Eric Pickles, Lord Pickles, as "CFI's Chair in the House of Lords".[37] Smith's own entry in the Commons register records that he became Vice Chairman of the Conservative Friends of Israel Parliamentary Board on 1 May 2025 and Chairman on 27 January 2026, an unpaid role.[38]

CFI's own description

CFI's website says that for "over 50 years" it has "played a key role in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the UK and Israel" and "works to build mutual understanding and friendship between the Conservative Party and Israel's diverse political landscape". It says it is "dedicated to ensuring Israel's case is fairly represented in Parliament" and that it organises delegations to Israel for Conservative parliamentarians and candidates, hosts briefing events and provides information "on developments in the Middle East".[39] The delegations page says CFI "has taken hundreds of Conservative MPs to Israel" and that visits "typically include high-level briefings with the IDF, security experts and journalists, as well as meetings with senior Israeli and Palestinian politicians".[37]

Lord Polak and the September 2017 meetings

Reporting the resignation of Priti Patel as international development secretary on 8 November 2017, the BBC said she had met the Israeli public security minister Gilad Erdan in Westminster on 7 September 2017 and the foreign ministry official Yuval Rotem in New York on 18 September 2017, and that "it is thought Lord Polak, honorary president of the Conservative Friends of Israel, was present at both meetings".[40]

Delegations and hospitality recorded in the Commons register

The House of Commons Register of Members' Financial Interests records the following trips and hospitality paid for by CFI, as registered between December 2025 and October 2026. Values are as declared by each member.

Conservative Friends of Israel: visits and hospitality registered by MPs, 2025–26
Member Dates Destination Declared value (£) Registered Register description
Priti Patel 21–25 November 2025 Israel 6,324 19 December 2025 Accommodation (£460) and transport and tour guide (£1,130) for Patel (£1,590); flights, accommodation and transport for two staff members (£2,367 each)[41]
Sarah Bool 4–8 January 2026 Israel and Palestine 3,200 18 January 2026 Air travel, accommodation and hospitality[42]
Gareth Bacon 4–9 January 2026 Israel and the Palestinian Authority 3,200 15 January 2026 Air travel, accommodation and hospitality[43]
Paul Holmes 4–9 January 2026 Israel and Palestine 3,200 26 January 2026 Flights, accommodation and hospitality[44]
Greg Smith (politician) 4–9 January 2026 Israel and Palestine 3,200 28 January 2026 Air travel, accommodation and hospitality[45]
Peter Fortune 4–9 January 2026 Israel and Palestine 3,200 24 February 2026 Air travel, accommodation and hospitality[46]
Greg Smith (politician) 4–7 October 2026 United Kingdom (hospitality) 863 30 October 2026 Three nights' accommodation and dinner for Smith and a family member[47]

The register gives CFI's address as PO Box 72288, London SW1P 9LB and, in Smith's October 2026 entry, identifies the donor as a company, Conservative Friends of Israel Ltd, with Companies House number 08114952. The Register records the Patel entry as not solely for her benefit because it covers two accompanying staff members.

Resources

Contact

Company number: 08114952

Notes

  1. ↑ Peter Oborne, Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby, Channel 4 Dispatches, 16-November-2009, Viewed 02-January-2010
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Peter Oborne and James Jones, "The pro-Israel lobby in Britain: full text", OpenDemocracy, 13 November 2009, accessed on 15 December 2010
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 People's Geography, "Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby – Dispatches", People's Geography, 17 November 2009
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ian Black, "Pro-Israel lobby group bankrolling Tories, film claims", Guardian, 16 November 2009, accessed on 19 December 2010
  5. ↑ Bill Williams, Michael Fidler (1916-1989): A study in leadership Stockport: R&D Graphics, 1997 p.315.
  6. ↑ Bill Williams, Michael Fidler (1916-1989): A study in leadership Stockport: R&D Graphics, 1997 p.347.
  7. ↑ American Jewish Yearbook, 1980 p.199.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Peter Oborne and James Jones, ‘The pro-Israel lobby in 
Britain: full text’, OpenDemocracy,
13 November 2009. http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/peter-oborne-james-jones/pro-israel-lobby-in-britain-full-text

  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 ‘Double role of a top Tory lobbyist’, Sunday Times, 21 October 2012.
  10. ↑ BICOM, About > Team, http://www.BICOM.org.uk/ about/team/
  11. ↑ Peter Oborne, Inside Britain's Israel Lobby, Channel 4 Dispatches, Aired 16-November-2009, Viewed 03-January-2010
  12. ↑ James Jones and Peter Oborne, The Pro Israel Lobby in Britain, Channel 4 pamphlet, 2009. Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 22 November 2009.
  13. ↑ Bernard Josephs and Leon Symons, Special report: Team Cameron’s big Jewish backers, The Jewish Chronicle, 13 October 2006, p. 3
  14. ↑ Ian Black and Nicholas Watt, David Cameron draws fire over Gaza comments, The Guardian, 27 July 2010
  15. ↑ David Cameron, SPEECH BY CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER DAVID CAMERON TO THE CONSERVATIVE FRIENDS OF ISRAEL ANNUAL LUNCH HELD IN LONDON ON THURSDAY 18TH JUNE 2009, Conservative Friends of Israel, 18-June-2009, Accessed 02-January-2009
  16. ↑ Harriet Sherwood, Childhood in ruins, The Guardian, 17-December-2009, Accessed 02-January-2009
  17. ↑ David Cameron, SPEECH BY CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER DAVID CAMERON TO THE CONSERVATIVE FRIENDS OF ISRAEL ANNUAL LUNCH HELD IN LONDON ON THURSDAY 18TH JUNE 2009, Conservative Friends of Israel, 18-June-2009, Accessed 02-January-2009
  18. ↑ David Cameron, SPEECH BY CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER DAVID CAMERON TO THE CONSERVATIVE FRIENDS OF ISRAEL ANNUAL LUNCH HELD IN LONDON ON THURSDAY 18TH JUNE 2009, Conservative Friends of Israel, 18-June-2009, Accessed 02-January-2009
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 CFI, "Delegations", Conservative Friends of Israel, accessed on 17 December 2010
  20. ↑ BPCIF, "David Gauke MP: Iran has an appalling record of exporting terror", British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom, 1 February 2006, accessed on 22 December 2010
  21. ↑ American Jewish Committee. London Jewish Community Greets AJC President Update 236, 20th December 2006. Accessed 21st August 2008
  22. ↑ Peter Oborne & James Jones, Inside Britain's Israel Lobby, 13-November-2009, Accessed 03-January-2009
  23. ↑ What We Do, CFI website. Last accessed on 23/08/2014.
  24. ↑ Directors of CFI. Data from Companies House. The CFI was an unincorporated association between 1974 and 2012. In 2012 it was registered as a company at Companies House in the UK.
  25. ↑ Companies House, Conservative Friends of Israel Limited (08114952): company overview, accessed 11 November 2026.
  26. ↑ Companies House, Conservative Friends of Israel Limited (08114952): officers, accessed 11 November 2026.
  27. ↑ Companies House, Conservative Friends of Israel Limited (08114952): persons with significant control, accessed 11 November 2026.
  28. ↑ Companies House, Conservative Friends of Israel Limited (08114952): filing history, including the registered-office changes of 15 January 2018, 26 February 2021 and 23 November 2023 and the accounts filed on 19 April 2024, 16 September 2024, 21 October 2025 and 15 October 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.
  29. ↑ Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Conservative Friends of Israel website, 2001-2014; Companies House (2012-14)
  30. ↑ Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Conservative Friends of Israel website, 2001-2014
  31. ↑ According to his own account Kerner was Deputy director from February 2003 to May 2005.(Linked In Stefan Kerner. Accessed 25 August 2014.) Internet Archive records show that he was listed as such on the CFI website on 7 April 2005.(CFI [ About Us>People>CFI Staff]. Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 7 April 2005 on 25 August 2014.) Previous records from the CFI site (February 2003 to 6 March 2005) do not list Kerner or a Deputy Director position.(Internet Archive Holdings of cfoi.co.uk. Accessed 25 August 2014).
  32. ↑ Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Conservative Friends of Israel website, 2001-2014
  33. ↑ Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Conservative Friends of Israel website, 2001-2014
  34. ↑ Data from Internet Archive holdings of the Conservative Friends of Israel website, 2001-2014
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Companies House, Conservative Friends of Israel Limited (08114952): filing history, total exemption full accounts made up to 31 July 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 (iXBRL filings; each set gives the prior-year figures), accessed 11 November 2026.
  36. ↑ Conservative Friends of Israel, History, accessed 11 November 2026.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Conservative Friends of Israel, Delegations, accessed 11 November 2026.
  38. ↑ UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, entry 12526: entry for Greg Smith MP, "Chairman Conservative Friends of Israel Parliamentary Board", accessed 11 November 2026.
  39. ↑ Conservative Friends of Israel, About, accessed 11 November 2026.
  40. ↑ BBC News, Priti Patel quits cabinet over Israel meetings row, 8 November 2017, accessed 11 November 2026.
  41. ↑ UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, entry 14182: Priti Patel, visit to Israel, 21–25 November 2025, accessed 11 November 2026.
  42. ↑ UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, entry 14346: Sarah Bool, visit to Israel, 4–8 January 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.
  43. ↑ UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, entry 14339: Gareth Bacon, visit to Israel, 4–9 January 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.
  44. ↑ UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, entry 14408: Paul Holmes, visit to Israel, 4–9 January 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.
  45. ↑ UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, entry 14431: Greg Smith, visit to Israel, 4–9 January 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.
  46. ↑ UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, entry 14610: Peter Fortune, visit to Israel, 4–9 January 2026, accessed 11 November 2026.
  47. ↑ UK Parliament, Register of Members' Financial Interests, entry 17399: Greg Smith, gifts, benefits and hospitality, Conservative Friends of Israel Ltd, £863, accessed 11 November 2026.
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