London: A delegation of young Conservative activists visited Israel last week as a part of the fact finding tour of the region. The aim was to give future leaders an opportunity to experience Israel for themselves and make an informed decision about issues in the region.
The delegation included tours of the security barrier in Jerusalem, visits to Israel’s many cultural and religious sites, as well as tours of the northern borders with Lebanon and Syria. They also had the opportunity to meet with key Israeli officials, academics and politicians at the Knesset, in addition to meetings in the West Bank with Palestinian representatives.
Amongst the delegates tipped to be the leaders of tomorrow were Cllr Ameet Jogia from Harrow and Pranav Bhanot, a community activist and lawyer.
After the meet, Cllr Ameet Jogia said, “We hear about the conflict in the Middle East on a daily basis, yet the majority of us remain detached from the situation as we feel it doesn’t affect us. This delegation was a real eye-opener as it helped young politicians like myself to really understand the security issues faced by Israel and its global impact. I have always wanted to visit Israel, but like many I was often disillusioned by the perception portrayed in the media.
“Israel is a phenomenal country with tremendous complexities, from the ultra tech city of Tel Aviv, to the historic Holy City of Jerusalem. Our visit to the Syrian border was particularly harrowing as we witnessed explosions and gunshots in villages taken over by Al Qaeda, a brutal reminder of the threat we face and how the conflict in the region is very much real.”
Pranav Bhanot said, “Meeting activists in Israel and the West Bank put a refreshing perspective on the conflict and emphasised the importance of seeing the facts for ourselves on the ground rather than being influenced by the media. It was particularly interesting to see how enthused Israeli politicians were to strengthen bonds with both the United Kingdom and India.”
Conservative Friends of Israel Director Stuart Polak conveyed the importance of the event. “We have a lot of work to do with the government and new MPs, but for the future, doing these trips with Conservative Future is an investment.”
Over 450 people had applied to join the delegation but there was only 15 places and was co-ordinated by Israel’s Foreign Ministry and its London Embassy.
