Alongside France, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Luxembourg, Malta and Andorra, the UK has formally recognised a Palestinian state. The decision follows Sir Keir Starmer’s statement in July which announced Britain’s intention to do so at the UN General Assembly meeting this month. This briefing examines the UK’s decision, laying out the government’s arguments, reactions in Britain and Israel, and assessing the potential implications.

As UNGA continues in New York, with Prime Minister Netanyahu expected to speak in the next hour, Sir Tony Blair’s Gaza plan (to form an interim government in Gaza and end the war) has been briefed in further detail; here is what we know…

Amid growing tensions between Israel and Gulf countries, ELNET's Forum for Strategic Dialogue convened dozens of high-ranking experts and policymakers this week in Abu Dhabi for its fifth Europe-Middle East Forum, "Fostering Security and Innovation through Strategic Partnerships”…

ELNET UK’s latest paper explores the post 12-day war situation, concerning Iran’s nuclear ambitions. It explains the “snapback mechanism”, under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2231 (2015), and how it allows automatic reimposition of UN sanctions (pre-2015 sanctions) on Iran for violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). It examines what will happen post 18 October 2025 when all the measures set out in resolution 223, pertaining to nuclear activities, expire.

Calls for a Gaza ceasefire intensified in Parliament, with David Lammy branding Israel’s new aid system “inhumane”, urging immediate UN-led relief. Tensions spiked over the Government’s proscription of Palestine Action, with a bloc of MPs accusing ministers of criminalising protest. In the Lords, a fierce debate on rising UK antisemitism and the Syria-Druze crisis underscored mounting regional and domestic pressures. Keir Starmer faced renewed demands to clarify Labour’s stance on Palestinian recognition.

ELNET UK’s July 30th statement on the prime minister’s conditions for recognising a Palestinian state

ELNET's July 25th Statement following President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state.

The U.S.-Israel alliance has long been one of the most enduring partnerships in modern geopolitics, built on shared democratic values, mutual security interests, and deep military and economic cooperation. Since the establishment of the Israeli state, successive U.S. administrations have provided unwavering diplomatic support and substantial military aid, while Israel has functioned as a pivotal strategic partner in the geopolitically volatile Middle East. Yet beneath this durable bond lies a growing tension between perceived strategic alignment…

Syria’s future remains precarious, and a sustainable peace uncertain; given local rivalries, personal vendettas, and the threat from Islamist groups such as ISIS, all jostle for position post-Assad regime. For neighbouring states and international policymakers, the post-Assad era offers opportunities for strategic realignment but equally carries the risk of a renewed power vacuum if President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government cannot govern and maintain peace. In this paper we examine the threats and opportunities for Israel, especially in light of the latest violence against the Druze in Syria, and Israel’s response.

Since October 7th, the actions of Iran and its proxies, and the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict, have shone a light on existing alliances within the Middle East and how they may manifest militarily, in times of crisis. With hope of a ceasefire in Gaza approaching, and a new dawn in the Middle East, including Abraham Accords 2, We explore the historical impact and implications today of Israel’s peace agreements with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) that have long served as the foundation for relative stability on Israel’s southern and eastern borders…

The evolving geopolitical landscape in the Middle East has brought Iran’s military and diplomatic challenges into acute focus. Iran's recent experience, with its proxies largely cowed if not decimated by Israel, and finding itself in a direct confrontation with the U.S, would have been unimaginable pre-October 7th attacks, and certainly to an extent, even two weeks ago…

ELNET UK has produced a Parliamentary snapshot detailing all Israel-related activity and commentary from the House of Commons and the House of Lords over the past month.

ELNET UK has produced a comprehensive snapshot of recent Parliamentary activity related to the Iran - Israel conflict, compiling all statements and discussions on the matter from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords over the past month.

Given the current prospect of incidental regime change in Iran, we explore the landscape of Iranian dissidents and ask – what may come next? Ayatollah Khamenei has been the Supreme Leader of the Iranian regime since 1989. As a result of Israel’s ‘Operation Rising Lion’ which includes targeted elimination of the Iranian regime’s military leadership and nuclear infrastructure, the once-distant prospect of regime change could be only a matter of time away…..

The escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran in recent weeks is a cause for concern to the UK, not just because of the UK’s position as a strategic ally of Israel’s and to what extent we will directly be involved in defending Israel, but to the potential threat within the UK from the IRGC. The behaviour of Iran and the IRGC, as a state actor, demonstrates what we already know - they are a hostile force who cannot be turned away from their stated aims and are clearly the enemy of western democracy. It is more important than ever that the UK Government proscribe this organisation now, or as soon as current circumstances allow.

In May 2025, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.-Israeli initiative, commenced operations to distribute aid directly to Palestinians in Gaza. This move aimed to bypass Hamas-controlled distribution channels, with the goal of removing Hamas’ tools for governing Gaza…

ELNET UK statement following the killing of two Israeli diplomats

The UK government has announced it was pausing free trade negotiations with Israel due to the “egregious” policies being pursued by the Israeli government in Gaza and the West Bank. The Foreign Secretary also introduced further sanctions on “individuals, illegal settler outposts and organisations supporting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank” and summoned the Israeli ambassador to London, Tzipi Hotovely.

ELNET UK presents the following briefing aimed to give you an overview of the UK defence posture, including the UK’s commitment to European security, the Middle East as well as the Strategic Defence Review and UK-Israel defence and security partnership.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or NATO is a political and military alliance, established on April 4th, 1949, by the North Atlantic / Washington Treaty. At the core of NATO's legal and strategic framework is Article 5, which enshrines the principle of collective defence by stipulating that an armed attack against one member shall be considered an attack against all. This commitment to mutual defence enhances the strategic value of NATO membership, particularly for states facing security threats from potentially aggressive neighbours…