Conservative Friends of Israel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) is a campaign group whose aims include strengthening business, cultural and political ties between the United Kingdom and Israel. The group's 2005 strategy identifies the following areas of activity: supporting Israel, promoting conservatism, fighting terrorism, combating anti-semitism, and promoting peace in the Middle East.^[1]

In 2005 the Parliamentary Chairman was the Rt Hon James Arbuthnot, M.P., and the Parliamentary President is Baroness Shephard of Northwold. Vice chairmen were John Butterfill and James Clappison .Treasurer: Nick Hawkins; Secretary: David Amess and Chairman of CFI Europe was Timothy Kirkhope

According to their website, "over two thirds" of Conservative MPs were members of Conservative Friends of Israel in 2006.^[2] The websites also states that it is one of the fastest growing political lobby groups [1].

[edit] CFI Annual Business Lunch

David Cameron, then newly elected leader of the Conservative Party, addressed the CFI annual Business Lunch on January 30, 2006. As part of his remarks, he stated "I am proud not just to be a Conservative, but a Conservative friend of Israel; and I am proud of the key role CFI plays within our Party. Israel is a democracy, a strong and proud democracy, in a region that is, we hope, making its first steps in that direction."^[3]

Former Conservative party leaders Iain Duncan Smith^[4] and Michael Howard^[5] have also addressed the CFI Business Lunch.