- Details
- The Judean Staff
- International
The entire world has been mourning together with the United Kingdom over the passing of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96. The Queen was beloved around the world and was well traveled because of it. One issue though has troubled many Israelis over the years, why did the Queen never visit the Holy Land? Considering her mother-in-law chose the land as her final resting place, it is a valid question.
The answer is not officially known by anyone but reasons given in the past include fears of oil embargoes by Arab nations and other political concerns. England has a complex relationship with the Middle East dating back to the decades before World War I, and as the population of Islamic citizens in their own countries skyrocket, they have had to keep a close distance, navigating both a relationship with the Jewish State while not offending those under their realm who would see it destroyed.
Mark Regev, former ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom, spoke with Israeli radio hosts about Queen Elizabeth II and about her successor, her son and new King, Charles III: "Despite the inclinations of his heart, one should still remember that this is only a representative figure," Regev said of the new Monarch and his position.
RIP Queen Elizabeth & long live King Charles,friend of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Z"L,who he eulogized.https://t.co/h20cwL239N BTW he was circumcised at Buckingham Palace (1948) by Rabbi Snowman,official mohel of Londonโs Jewish community.He also visited Israel. https://t.co/FbTQ0klmx0 pic.twitter.com/LwLIN03Mul
โ Leonard Grunstein (@LenGrunstein) September 9, 2022
"You have to remember that this is a representative figure, without real political power," said Regev at the beginning of the conversation about his impressions of the Queen. "I met with her several times, she was a serious woman who worked in the civil service. She was very strict in fulfilling her role but she did not enter politics and that is why they liked her because she was above it." Regev touched upon something many Royal analysts have been pointing out, while his mother was 'above the fray' when it came to politics, Charles has weighed in on many social and political issues. How this plays out as he becomes acclimated to his new role is unknown, and the world will be watching to see if he is as passionate as a King about these issues as he was when he was a Prince.
Regev was later also asked the obvious question, how can the fact that the Queen has never visited Israel be put into words, Regev replied that we do not know whether Elizabeth II was for or against Israel, "but the simple fact is that she paid many visits to our neighbors and never came to us, in all the years of her reign She did not come to visit Israel. She is a representative figure, she does not set policy, and in Britain, no senior representative of the royal family visits anywhere without the permission of the British Foreign Office. She is like an ambassador, she is a representative of the elected government, she does not decide by herself, but the senior officials ", he explained.
Tonight I was honoured to sign the condolence book for HM Queen Elizabeth II at the British Ambassador's Residence. The Queen lived history, she made history, and the world will miss her. We also wish His Majesty King Charles III a peaceful and successful reign. @ukinisrael pic.twitter.com/FszqgN2kdZ
โ ืืฆืืง ืืจืฆืื Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) September 10, 2022
Regev continued to talk about the soon-to-be King and his relationship with Israel. "I was with Charles quite a bit, we came together to Israel for the funeral of Shimon Peres, after that he was here again at the event of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp. I had more conversations with him than the Queen, he may really be a friend of the Jewish community.
โWhen Jeremy Corbyn, the former chairman of the Labor Party, was accused of anti-Semitic remarks, Charles convened an event to honor the Jewish community in Great Britain, as a sign of gratitude for the contribution of the Jews to British society, and this perhaps indicated the inclinations of his heart. But you have to remember, he doesn't decide, he is also a representative king."
In another tie that binds, Jews have had a special role in the Kingdom for some time, in 1948, Charles was circumcised by the official 'Mohel' of London's Jewish community, Rabbi Snowman. The monarchy has had the tradition of using Jewish Mohels to circumcise their sons since the time of Queen Victoria, with some exceptions such as the current heir to the throne whose mother Diana, Princess of Wales chose to forego the procedure and religious rite.
Why did the Queen never visit Israel? Will King Charles make an official visit? pic.twitter.com/ElTeSsxQWB
โ Jonathan Sacerdoti (@jonsac) September 10, 2022
Regev was hopeful that Israel and England would develop an even closer relationship than it currently has. The fact King Charles III has come to Israel several times and has ties to the land as his Grandmother is buried in the Church of Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem, is a sign of those hopes. While England is watching a surge of antisemitism, some believe England's response has been to pivot closer to the community, and in doing so to Israel.
