Israeli diplomat filmed talking about ‘taking down’ pro-Palestinian UK MPs

A senior Israeli embassy official in London has been caught on camera saying he plotted to “take down” British MPs sympathetic to Palestine, including Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan.

Shai Masot, a senior political officer at the Israeli regime embassy in London, who also describes himself as an Israeli military officer, made the threats about several British lawmakers during an undercover sting scheme by an Al Jazeera investigative unit, according to a Guardian report on Saturday.

Masot declined to comment or elaborate on what he meant when he said he wanted to “take down” a number of British lawmakers.

Masot had been speaking to Maria Strizzolo, a civil servant who was formerly an aide to another Conservative minister. Also present during the recorded conversation was 'Robin' - a man whom they thought to be working for Labor Friends of Israel -- a political pressure group, but in fact, Robin was an undercover reporter.

While discussing with Masot ways to discredit British MPs not friendly to Israel, Strizzolo said, “Well, you know, if you look hard enough, I’m sure that there is something that they’re trying to hide.” Later she added, “A little scandal, maybe.”

During the conversation back in October, Strizzolo further boasted that she had helped to secure a promotion for her boss, Conservative MP Robert Halfon.

According to the daily, she had been Halfon’s chief of staff when he was deputy chair of the Conservative Party. Last year, Halfon was appointed as education minister and Strizzolo was appointed as a senior manager at the Skills Funding Agency. She continues to work part-time for Halfon.

In the footage, Masot agreed that Strizzolo had assisted Halfon and then asked her if she could also achieve the opposite effect. “Can I give you some MPs that I would suggest you would take down?” he asked, according to the report. He went on to state that she knew which MPs he was referring to.

The conversation, the report added, then turned to Britain’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, whom Strizzolo described as "solid on Israel." Masot agreed but noted that Johnson just did not care. “You know he is an idiot …” Masot said.

According to the daily, other prominent Conservatives identified during the conversation included Crispin Blunt, chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, who is also a prominent supporter of Palestinians.

ME