Sir Keir Starmer has been urged by Labour Muslims to boycott Israel’s “extremist” ambassador after she rejected the idea of a Palestinian state.  

The Labour Muslim Network wrote to the party’s leader on Tuesday saying that he and other senior figures must not share a platform with Tzipi Hotovely. 

The group represents Muslim MPs, councillors and ordinary party members.

Ms Hotovely rejected calls for two-state solution 

Ms Hotovely rejected calls for a two state solution in an interview with Sky News last week.

Asked whether Israel still supported the idea of a Palestinian state, she replied: “The answer is absolutely no. Israel knows today, and the world should know now that the Palestinians never wanted to have a state next to Israel.

“They want to have a state from the river to the sea. They are saying it loud and clear. It’s now two months after the war.”

The remarks earned her a rare public rebuke from Rishi Sunak, who said he did “not agree” with her position.

“Our longstanding position remains the two-state solution is the right outcome here,” the Prime Minister said.

Israeli ambassador’s comments were ‘extreme’ 

In its letter the Muslim Labour Network said the Israeli ambassador’s comments were “extreme” and sharing a platform with her could transgress the party’s code of conduct on Islamophobia.

The group wrote to Sir Keir: “The right of self determination for Palestinians and an independent Palestinian state has been a longstanding position for the Labour Party, for the United Kingdom and for the international community.

“To deny the right of Palestine to exist as an independent state is not only an extremist position, but also completely contrary to international consensus.

“Furthermore, denying the right of self determination for Palestinians and millions of Muslims is clearly Islamophobic.”

‘Worrying trend’ 

It added: “There is a worrying trend of senior Israeli officials and members of the government Ms Hotovely represents making statements that are genocidal in nature towards the Palestinian people.

“Associating with such individuals or endorsing their views in any way is not only Islamophobic and morally reprehensible but also poses a significant risk to the Labour Party’s integrity and our commitment to human rights and international law.

“We are therefore writing to you as leader of the Labour Party with the expectation that no further engagements be made or platforms shared by Labour Party representatives with the current Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely.

“It is clear for all to see, the ambassador is no partner in peace. Any Labour representatives that shares engagements and/or platforms with Ms Hotovely would not only be legitimising her extreme positions, but could also be violating our Islamophobia code of conduct.”

Letter to pile more pressure on Sir Keir 

The letter will pile more pressure on Sir Keir to toughen up his position on Israel and Gaza, a subject which has divided the Labour Party.

Last month he faced a major frontbench rebellion over his refusal to bend to pressure from Labour MPs to back a ceasefire.

Nine shadow ministers quit to support a backbench amendment which urged him to row behind calls for an end to the fighting.

Sir Keir did finally back calls for a “sustainable ceasefire” on Monday - but only after Mr Sunak said that was now the Government’s position.

The Labour leader said during a visit to a hospital in Leeds that a “sustainable ceasefire is clearly, clearly what is needed” and it needed to be achieved “as quickly as possible”.