UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in London Tuesday to sign the 2030 Roadmap for Israel-UK Bilateral Relations.

The 2030 Roadmap deal will deepen cooperation across tech, research and development, security and cyber, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s latest press release reads.

On Monday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has authority over civilian issues in the occupied West Bank, drew condemnation after he said there was no Palestinian history or culture and no such thing as a Palestinian people.

The European Union said it “firmly deplores yet another unacceptable comment by Minister Smotrich,” calling it dangerous and counterproductive, with Borrell also telling reporters in Brussels that Smotrich’s comments “certainly cannot be tolerated,” Reuters reported.

The press release mentioned the need to de-escalate tensions in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories but did not assign blame. There was also no reference to the Israeli government’s planned changes to the judiciary.

Both ministers also discussed deepening their security and defence co-operation to counter the threat posed by Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit his British counterpart Rishi Sunak in London on Friday to discuss the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear programme.

(Sofia Stuart Leeson | EURACTIV.com)