Emails on Israel embarrass Charles
THE Prince of Wales is embroiled in a diplomatic row after the accidental leaking of emails in which his senior staff made disparaging comments about Israel.
THE Prince of Wales is embroiled in a diplomatic row after the accidental leaking of emails in which his senior staff made disparaging comments about Israel.
Emails between two of Charles's closest aides make clear there was "no chance ever" of Clarence House accepting an invitation to visit Jerusalem.
The emails, published in The Jewish Chronicle yesterday, reveal a fear Israel would want Charles "to help burnish its international image".
The emails are understood to have been accidentally copied to the outgoing Israeli ambassador, Zvi Heifetz, who left this week.
No member of the British royal family has made a state visit to Israel.
It was in the hope of building on the relations between Israel and the royal family that the Israeli embassy in London invited Charles's principal private secretary, Michael Peat, and his deputy, Clive Alderton, to Israel for a four-day visit as guests of the Knesset, the parliament.
The groundwork could then have been laid for an official visit by Charles.
The initial response from Sir Michael was enthusiastic. In an email to Mr Heifetz and copied to his deputy, he says: "The invitation to Israel is hugely appreciated, and Clive and I would love to come."
But by the time Mr Alderton responded to Sir Michael six days later, the ardour had cooled. Mr Alderton wrote: "Safe to assume there is no chance of this visit ever actually happening? Acceptance would make it hard to avoid the many ways in which Israel would want HRH to help burnish its international image."
Henry Grunwald, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: "Prince Charles is a great friend of the Jewish community. I am sure he will be deeply disturbed that some people might interpret these unfortunate emails as conveying any hostility to Israel at all."
The Times