Prince Charles has visit to Israel cancelled ‘by Foreign Office camel corps pandering to Arab dictators’
Heir to the throne was set to become the first Royal to carry out an official state visit to Israel since it was created in 1948
PRINCE Charles is at the centre of a diplomatic row after plans for him to visit Israel were dropped by the Foreign Office.
The heir to the throne was set to become the first Royal to carry out an official state visit to Israel since it was created in 1948.
Prince Charles was set to travel to Israel to honour thousands of British war dead at the centenary of the WW1 Palestine Campaign and the historic Balfour Declaration.
But insiders say the controversial trip – unofficially pencilled in for later this year – has now been binned.
It is feared the decision may have been taken to avoid upsetting Arab nations in the region who regularly host UK Royals.
A former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan branded the decision an “insult to British war dead” although there is no suggestion Charles was personally involved in any discussions leading to it.
The proposed move is even more upsetting, say insiders, as Australian PM Malcom Turnbull has confirmed he will attend commemoration services.
Last night former Colonel Richard Kemp – a long-time supporter of Israel – slammed the Foreign Office as “camel corps” who were “pandering” to Arab dictators.
The idea of a Royal state visit first surfaced after Reuven Rivlin, the Israeli President, extended an invitation via Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson at a meeting in Jerusalem earlier this year.
Prince Charles was set to pay respects to 16,000 British and Commonwealth troops who died during the Palestine Campaign in 1917.
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And commemorate the centenary of the Balfour Declaration – when Britain became the first nation to officially recognise the right of the Jewish people to a homeland - the first step in creating Israel.
But the Royal Visits Committee – part of the FCO – who decide where and when Royals will be sent around the world have decided against it.
It is understood the invite never even reached the Royal household or Prince Charles.
Prince Charles has already visited the country in a private capacity.
In October last year he attended the funeral of former Israeli president Shimon Peres and visited his grandmother’s grave.
His paternal grandmother Princess Alice of Battenberg – who saved a Jewish family during the Holocaust – is buried at Mount of Olives’ Church of Mary Magdalene.
Insiders pointed to the visit as evidence there was no issue within the Royal family with visiting Israel.
Royals have visited Israel in a personal capacity in the past, but never for a state visit, despite both nations being close allies.
An FCO spokesman said: “Decisions on where members of the Royal Family visit on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government are taken by the Royal Visits Committee and include advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.”
‘TIMID AND MEAN BAN’
SINCE the creation of Israel in 1948, the Queen or Prince Charles have visited Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya and Qatar, writes Colonel Richard Kemp.
"The Foreign Office’s Camel Corps have sabotaged any chance of a visit to Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East.
"Out of respect for our war dead, the Prime Minister must overturn this timid and mean-spirited ban."