A New Conservative Era - What Kemi Badenoch’s Leadership Means for Israel-Palestine

In this report, we analyse the implications of Kemi Badenoch’s leadership of the Conservative Party for the UK’s stance on Israel-Palestine. Following her recent election victory over Robert Jenrick, Badenoch emerges as a prominent pro-Israel figure whose record includes vocal support for Israel’s military campaigns, opposition to UNRWA, and alignment with Israeli narratives around Hamas. Her tenure as trade secretary saw her deepen bilateral ties with Israel, including arms export deals and meetings with Israeli defence and business officials. Her long-standing support for Israel has drawn praise from senior Israeli leaders and pro-Israel organisations in the UK.

The report argues that Badenoch’s rise represents a significant gain for the pro-Israel lobby, solidifying the Conservative Party’s identity as an unwavering ally of Israel. Under her leadership, the party is expected to fiercely oppose the Labour Government’s attempts to suspend arms exports to Israel, restore UNRWA funding, or support the ICC’s role in investigating war crimes. Domestically, her stance on anti-Zionist protests and antisemitism suggests a more hardline approach, reinforcing a Conservative strategy that challenges dissenting voices on Israel and seeks to maintain strong diplomatic, military, and ideological alignment with the Israeli state.