David Lammy is facing widespread mockery this morning after Israeli media claimed he has been snubbed by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu while on a trip to the Middle East this weekend.
According to Moriah Asraf of Israel's Channel 13 News, the Foreign Secretary had been attempting to meet with the controversial wartime leader during his visit, but was rebuffed by the PM's office in a major diplomatic snub.
Channel 13 claimed the meeting refusal came after the UK government withdrew its objection to the International Criminal Court prosecutor's request for arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and the Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes.
Channel 13 reported: “Israeli sources tell me that the British have contacted Netanyahu's office several times in order to coordinate the meeting, and the official response given is the constraints of the timetable”.
Mr Asraf added: “Let's remember – the reason the British Foreign Minister came here is, among other things, to discuss the scenario of an attack from Iran and Hezbollah”.
“Israel is interested in British assistance in such a case.”
While the Foreign Office has now denied that Mr Lammy had sought a visit with Mr Netanyahu during his visit, the claims sparked mockery online.
George Galloway tweeted: “You'd need a heart of stone not to laugh…”
Left-wing political group the Newham Independents said: “All the hand wringing that Lammy and Labor have done and it's not good enough for Netanyahu.”
Conservative commentator Chris Rose said: “Good. David Lammy is an international embarrassment and deserves no respect.”
Mr Lammy has also come under fire after he removed a yellow pin badge expressing solidarity with Israeli hostages during a meeting with the Palestinian Prime Minister.
Both Mr Lammy and his French opposite Stéphane Séjourné wore the symbols in a meeting with the Israeli foreign minister on Friday.
However both badges were removed by the time they sat down with Mohammed Mustafa later that day.
Eylon Levy, a former spokesperson for the Israeli government, said: “Imagine if they had made the tiny gesture of keeping the pin for their meeting with the Palestinian prime minister.”
“It would have sent a message – stop making excuses for Hamas. Tell it to free the hostages, now!”
Writing in the Observer today, Mr Lammy said there is a rising risk of a “full-scale regional war” in the Middle East, amid growing tensions with Iran.
He warned that this is now a “perilous moment” for the region, and pledged further cooperation between Britain and France amid the “destructive cycle of violence”.
The wrote: “Fighting between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah has intensified”.
“Iranian threats of further escalation mean the risks of a full-scale regional war are rising.
“One miscalculation, and the situation risks spiraling into an even deeper and more intractable conflict. This cycle, with its tendency towards escalation, is making progress towards a political solution harder.”