UK Appoints Pro-Israel Stephen Doughty as Middle East Minister, Stirring Arab World Concerns

The British political scene has shifted following Keir Starmer's resignation and Andy Burnham's rise to Prime Minister. Despite Burnham's lukewarm stance on Israel, his appointment of Stephen Doughty as Minister for the Middle East and North Africa has drawn significant attention and criticism from the Arab world and pro-Palestinian activists in the UK.

Stephen Doughty, 46, a Welsh Labour MP and prominent member of the Jewish Labour Movement, is known for his strong support of Israel. He previously served as Minister of State for Europe, North America, and Overseas Territories from 2024 until last year. Doughty also has military experience, having served in the British Army reserves and completed security studies at the Royal College of Defence Studies.

Arab media and pro-Palestinian groups in Britain have expressed alarm over Doughty's public positions, labeling him as clearly anti-Palestinian. His record includes abstaining from a parliamentary vote calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, opposing a bill to boycott investments in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, refusing to sign letters urging the UK government to suspend arms sales to Israel, and supporting the UK Home Office's designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. Recently, he again declined to endorse a letter urging Prime Minister Burnham to impose sanctions on Israel.

Supporters of Israel in the UK anticipate that Doughty will maintain his stance when Parliament reconvenes in September to debate potential new British sanctions on trade with West Bank settlements, a move hinted at by the previous government under Starmer. While Burnham himself is not a strong Israel supporter, Doughty advocates for a two-state solution, balancing his pro-Israel views with support for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This appointment marks a notable development in British foreign policy toward the Middle East, intensifying scrutiny and debate within the UK and the broader Arab world.