SNP minister apologises over secret meeting with Israeli diplomat after outcry

A senior Scottish minister has said his government will refuse to meet with Israeli officials until there is peace in Gaza after furious criticisms of a meeting earlier this month.

Angus Robertson, Scotland’s external affairs secretary, apologised on Monday after senior figures in the Scottish National party reacted angrily to his decision to hold a secret meeting with Daniela Grudsky Ekstein, Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK.

Critics called for Robertson to be suspended and demanded an urgent debate at next month’s SNP conference, accusing him of trying to normalise relations with Israel.

One veteran Holyrood backbencher, Christine Grahame, reportedly protested to John Swinney, the first minister. She said her constituents were shocked the meeting had happened, and described Robertson as “a liability”.

The crisis intensified on Monday after another SNP minister, Ivan McKee, told the BBC that Robertson should reflect on what he said to the diplomat, and agreed the government should clarify its stance on the Gaza crisis and Israel’s conduct.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting on Monday, Robertson said he agreed to the meeting because it was a chance to express his government’s “clear and unwavering” calls for a ceasefire. In a short statement issued four days after the meeting took place, his officials said it included discussions about rising antisemitism, renewable energy cooperation and culture.

They said the meeting was held in secret at Israel’s request. Robertson said on Monday that in hindsight he should have restricted the meeting solely to discussions about Gaza.

Robertson said: “No one intended that this meeting be presented as legitimatising the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza. The Scottish government has been consistent in our unequivocal condemnation of the atrocities we have witnessed in Gaza.

“The reality, however, is that this meeting has been taken by many to represent a normalisation of relations between the Israeli and Scottish governments. As such, it is clear that it would have been better to ensure that the meeting was strictly limited to the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the appalling loss of life in the region. I apologise for the fact that this did not happen.

“Going forward, it is clear that, having now spoken direct to the Israeli government and making them aware of our position on an immediate ceasefire, it would not be appropriate to accept any invitation for a further meeting.”

Critics suggested Robertson’s decision to hold the meeting appeared to mark a significant change in approach for the Scottish government. Swinney’s predecessor Humza Yousaf is married to a half-Palestinian SNP councillor, Nadia El-Nakla, whose parents and siblings were trapped in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes. Yousaf took a very robust and critical line on Israel’s conduct.

McKee said it was unclear how vigorous Robertson had been in his meeting, and said Swinney should consider restating the government’s full position on the Gaza crisis.

McKee told BBC Scotland: “I think there is absolutely no harm in us providing more clarity on what was discussed at that meeting. But also restating our position, again, as the first minister has done, on ceasefire, on humanitarian aid, on recognition of the state of Palestine. And on those other issues that I’ve mentioned, about genocide and about detention and torture of Palestinians, about the arrest warrants, about the illegal settlements, about Israel’s behaviour in Gaza.”

The Israeli embassy has been approached for comment.