Angus Robertson apologises over meeting with Israel's deputy ambassador

Angus Robertson has apologised for meeting with an Israeli diplomat following considerable backlash from his own party.

The external affairs secretary said that the meeting should solely have focused on calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

He also confirmed Scottish ministers would not meet with any representative of the Israeli government until a ceasefire is in place.

Robertson met with the deputy ambassador of Israel, Daniela Grudsky, on 8 August.

A spokesperson confirmed the pair had discussed “areas of mutual interest, including culture, renewable energy, and engaging the country’s respective diasporas”, in addition to the conflict that has escalated in the region since October last year.

Israel’s prolonged attack on Gaza followed the 7 October terror attack by Hamas gunmen, in which around 1,200 were killed and 250 taken hostage. Authorities in Gaza say around 40,000 people there have been killed.

The decision to take the meeting has been widely criticised by members of the SNP, including current and former MSPs.

In a statement release on Monday, Robertson confirmed he had agreed to the meeting as “an opportunity to express the Scottish Government's clear and unwavering position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza”.

He added: “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.

“This will remain our position until such time as real progress has been made towards peace, unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance is provided and Israel cooperates fully with its international obligations on the investigation of genocide and war crimes.”

Robertson has been under pressure to quit his cabinet role over the meeting, with one SNP branch submitted a motion on censure to be discussed at the party’s conference at the end of the month.

First Minister John Swinney, who was aware the meeting had been schedules beforehand, defended his cabinet secretary last week. He said: “I understand why some believe a face-to-face meeting was not appropriate. However, I thought it necessary to outline our long-standing position on an immediate ceasefire directly, and explicitly, to one of Israel's representatives in the UK.”

Despite that intervention, Brendan O’Hara MP wrote to party bosses last week over the matter. He said Roberston has “undermined” MP colleagues’ work over the conflict.

The Scottish Greens have also been particularly critical of the meeting, with co-leader Patrick Harvie today lodging a motion in parliament calling for an apology.

Harvie said: “It is totally inappropriate for the Scottish Government to host a meeting with a senior representative for a government that is inflicting genocide. This was an astonishing misjudgement and it’s essential that the first minister acknowledges that.

“It is unacceptable for any politician to lend legitimacy to those that are inflicting war crimes, but that's exactly what the Scottish Government did when it chose to host a senior Israeli diplomat to discuss 'unique commonalities' and have a senior minister posing for photos with her.”