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Retired British Army commander Col. Richard Kemp delivered a bleak assessment of Britain’s political climate, rising antisemitism, and deteriorating relations with Israel, while also urging patience regarding President Donald Trump’s diplomatic efforts with Iran and emphasizing that Israel must never compromise its own security interests.

In an interview with Arutz Sheva–Israel National News’ Yoni Kempinski during the JNS International Policy Summit, Kemp discussed the turmoil in British politics, the surge in anti-Israel sentiment across the United Kingdom, developments involving Iran, and the strength of the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Asked about the reported resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Kemp said many Britons would likely welcome the development.

“I think it’s going to be quite welcome news in the country because Prime Minister Starmer has been very unpopular for pretty much all of his premiership,” Kemp said.

Despite that, he cautioned that replacing Starmer would not necessarily improve Britain’s policies toward the Jewish state.

“We don’t know who’s going to take over from him. Obviously, the most likely is Andy Burnham. I don’t think anything’s going to change much in Britain, particularly Britain’s relationship with Israel, which is, I think, at an all-time low at the moment,” he stated.

When asked whether a new leader could reverse that trend, Kemp said he was pessimistic, arguing that hostility toward Israel has become deeply entrenched within much of the governing party.

“I don’t think it’ll improve. It may even get worse than it is now because so many people, so many of the party’s supporters, both in Parliament and outside Parliament, are vehemently opposed to Israel.”

“They’ve bought, they’ve eaten up all this anti-Israel propaganda and they do not want Britain to have good relations with Israel. They don’t want cooperation with Israel,” he added.

Kemp also expressed serious concern over the growing sense of insecurity among British Jews, saying increasing antisemitism has led many to consider leaving the country.

“I think the situation is quite bad. I’ve spoken to many British Jews and a large number of them either have left Britain, are thinking about leaving Britain or are in the process of leaving, which is a terrible thing,” he said.

He argued that such an exodus would represent a major loss not only for Britain’s Jewish community but for the country as a whole.

“It’s bad for us as a country for two reasons. One, because we’re supposed to be a shining pillar of Western democracy and liberty and equal rights. And we’re showing ourselves, I think in some respects, to be the opposite in relation to a Jewish population,” he explained.

“The other reason why it’s bad for Britain is because over the years, including now, our Jewish community has contributed so much to the United Kingdom in so many different ways. I think disproportionate to the numbers of Jews that actually are in the UK. So if more and more leave, it’ll be a great tragedy for Britain for those reasons.”

Turning to the emerging agreement with Iran, Kemp rejected the notion that it either signals the end of the conflict or should automatically be viewed as a failure.

“I don’t think it’s the end of the war. And I don’t think it’s necessarily a failure either. It’s probably a bump in the road,” he said.

“I think we’re going to see events unfold maybe in a completely different way that we’re expecting over the coming months.”

Kemp acknowledged that some Israelis may be disappointed by President Trump’s approach, but argued that the president is balancing broader American strategic interests.

“President Trump is a man who many people here may think he’s made the wrong decision. He’s betrayed Israel. They may think that. But actually, he has a bigger strategy and he has bigger interests for his country than just Israel.”

He added that Trump is not likely to remain committed to an agreement if it fails to produce the desired results.

“He’s also a man who is not going to be wedded to this MOU if it doesn’t work out the way he wants it to work out. So I don’t see this as being an absolute disaster. I think it’s maybe a bit of a problem, but maybe it will resolve itself.”

Regardless of how negotiations unfold, Kemp said Israel must remain firm in defining and defending its own national security boundaries.

“Whatever happens, I think it’s really important that Israel establishes its red lines, what it’s prepared to do, what it’s not prepared to do, and sticks by them.”

Kemp also dismissed claims that Israel merely acts as an extension of U.S. policy, insisting that the Jewish state makes its own sovereign decisions.

“I think Israel is far from a proxy or a vassal of the US,” he said.

He praised the close relationship between Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and President Trump, while noting that both leaders ultimately prioritize the interests of their own countries.

“Under Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has, by the way, an extraordinary relationship with President Trump, even through thick and thin, they don’t always see eye to eye. But as I understand it, they understand each other,” Kemp said.

“I think that Prime Minister Netanyahu, obviously, as any prime minister should, his number one priority is not America. It’s not even relations with America. It’s Israel’s national interest, which does include good relations with America.”

Kemp concluded by expressing confidence that Netanyahu will continue to stand firm on Israel’s core security interests, particularly with regard to Lebanon.

“I think he’s a man who’s going to be able to stand up and specify what his red lines are, and then stick to them. And I think in particular, that includes Lebanon,” Kemp concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Iran is reportedly seeking to generate tens of billions of dollars annually by imposing new charges on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a proposal that has drawn swift opposition from the Trump administration and regional allies who insist the vital international waterway must remain free of transit fees.

According to a report published Thursday by The Wall Street Journal, Iranian officials believe a new framework involving charges for security, safety, and environmental services in the Strait of Hormuz could produce as much as $40 billion a year for participating countries while significantly expanding Tehran’s influence over one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes.

The report says Iranian officials have presented the concept to neighboring Gulf states and to China, arguing that the strategic waterway has entered a new era following the recent U.S.-Iran conflict and that management of the strait “will never return to the way it was before.”

If implemented, the proposal would represent a major departure from decades of international maritime practice, under which commercial vessels have enjoyed toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio firmly rejected the idea while visiting Bahrain on Thursday, warning that permitting Iran to charge ships for passage through an international waterway would establish an unacceptable precedent, according to CBS News.

“The reality is that no country on Earth has the right to charge for the use of international waterways,” Rubio said. “That will never be an acceptable condition of any deal.”

Oman’s Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, echoed Rubio’s position following meetings with the secretary of state and fellow Gulf leaders, stating that any future agreement governing the Strait of Hormuz “will not involve imposing any transit fees.”

President Donald Trump also sought to reassure markets on Wednesday, saying on Truth Social that Iranian officials had informed the United States they intended to impose “no tolls, no insurance costs & no other charges of any kind” on vessels passing through the strait.

Trump added that if reports of planned fees prove accurate, negotiations with Tehran would end “immediately.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, carrying approximately 20 percent of global oil supplies. While commercial shipping has gradually resumed following the recent conflict, some shipping companies continue to exercise caution.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Iran has already established an insurance company that it says vessels should utilize when transiting the strait and has introduced new registration requirements directing ships to notify Iranian authorities two days before entering the waterway.

Legal experts told the newspaper that Iran would face formidable legal obstacles in implementing such a system.

Unlike Turkey, which possesses treaty-based authority under a 1936 international agreement to collect certain fees in the Dardanelles, any comparable arrangement in the Strait of Hormuz would almost certainly require broad international approval through the International Maritime Organization.

As negotiations with Tehran continue, the Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized that unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains a non-negotiable principle of U.S. policy.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance said the latest round of negotiations with Iranian officials in Switzerland produced an agreement in principle to establish a new direct communication channel between the United States and Iran, describing the move as an important step toward easing regional tensions and resolving future disputes.

In an interview with UnHerd Magazine, Vance explained that one of Washington’s primary objectives during the talks was to establish “a channel on the Iranian side” through which both governments could manage conflicts more effectively.

“Which we did,” Vance stated. He said the arrangement calls for representatives of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to maintain direct contact in Doha. “That’s how we’re going to settle a lot of these disputes,” he said.

Vance cautioned that the initiative’s success will ultimately depend on whether Tehran follows through on the commitments it has made.

“They’re certainly talking differently than they have in the past,” he said. “But whether the action will follow, whether the final deal actually meets some of what they’re promising in general terms – that’s what we have to figure out.”

The vice president also described how discussions with Iranian negotiators have evolved over time, saying the atmosphere has changed considerably since the first direct meeting.

“The first time we ever sat down with them was in Istanbul, and it almost felt like a performance,” Vance said. He added that after initial exchanges, “it got to a good place where we were able to actually have a conversation.”

Discussing the proposed memorandum of understanding currently being negotiated between Washington and Tehran, Vance dismissed suggestions that it resembles the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“There are many things I don’t like about the comparison to the JCPOA,” he said, adding that the current memorandum is “a much more generic document” and serves as “a foundational document.”

According to Vance, the proposed framework is intended to reopen maritime shipping lanes, end military hostilities, and create a foundation for negotiating a broader agreement over Iran’s nuclear program.

“Let’s open the Strait, let’s stop shooting at each other, and let’s see if we can make a nuclear deal,” he said, describing the US position.

Vance also asserted that Iran has put forward proposals that go beyond the terms of the JCPOA, including a more stringent inspection system and the complete “elimination” of its existing stockpile of enriched uranium.

“The flip side,” he said, “is that they really want a fundamentally transformed relationship with the United States and the world – and I don’t know where we’re going to be able to land in the middle.”

The vice president said America’s diplomatic efforts have been welcomed by several Gulf nations, highlighting what he described as unprecedented dialogue between the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

“The Emiratis – by far the most hawkish, by far the most pro-Israel country in the GCC – they’re having conversations with the Iranians that have never happened before,” he said, adding that discussions have included economic incentives and conditions for investment.

Addressing broader regional security concerns, Vance said negotiators also made progress on issues involving Lebanon, including discussions about mechanisms to prevent military escalation.

“Israel, and every other nation in the region, has the right of self-defence,” he said. “But we want to make sure everyone has that right of self-defence in a background where we’re talking about how to de-escalate.”

Vance expressed guarded optimism about recent developments in Lebanon, saying the ceasefire appeared to be holding despite lingering concerns.

“I think we’re now at 48 hours where the ceasefire in Lebanon has effectively held,” he said, adding that while challenges remain, the situation had improved compared to previous weeks.

Concluding his remarks, Vance emphasized that the ultimate test of the diplomatic process will be whether Iran follows its recent rhetoric with meaningful action.

“Whether the action will follow, whether the final deal actually meets some of what they’re promising in general terms – that’s what we have to figure out,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu declared Thursday that Israel has emerged from the war in a position of historic strength, dismissing critics who claim the campaign failed to produce meaningful results while insisting that major challenges still remain, particularly regarding Iran and Hamas.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony for the IDF Officers’ Training Course at Training Base 1, Netanyahu praised Israel’s military accomplishments and asserted that the country’s strategic position has never been stronger.

“The State of Israel is stronger than ever,” Netanyahu said, rejecting assertions that the war yielded few tangible gains.

Responding to those who have downplayed the success of Israel’s military operations, the prime minister stated, “You have to be blind to say there were ‘no achievements.'” He pointed to Operations Rising Lion and Roaring Lion as examples of what he described as landmark victories, calling them “a great achievement.”

At the same time, Netanyahu cautioned that Israel’s work is far from finished, emphasizing that significant threats remain despite the military successes.

“There are more things to do, to do with Iran and Hamas,” he stated.

Netanyahu also argued that the war has transformed not only Israel’s security situation but the nation’s mindset as well. He said the conflict fundamentally altered Israel’s approach to confronting its enemies and reshaped the strategic balance throughout the region.

“We changed the rules of the game in our region from the ground up, but above all, we changed ourselves.” He claimed that Israel “managed to break through the barrier of fear with initiative and aggression.”

Turning to the situation in southern Israel, Netanyahu said the country has reestablished security around Gaza and pointed to what he described as the revival of communities that were devastated by the October 7 Hamas massacre.

“We are surrounding the Gaza Strip, we restored security to the Gaza envelope, the western Negev is once again blooming and thriving.”

{Matzav.com}