British International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has signed a trade continuity agreement with Israel, ahead of the anticipated withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Fox on the agreement during a telephone conversation after the signing-ceremony, and said Israel’s consideration of the UK as an important friend was reflected by the agreement. Britain is Israel’s largest European trade partner, and third largest trading partner overall. In 2018, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to about 11 billion U.S. dollars.
Meanwhile, just several hours after the signing ceremony in Israel, Secretary Liam Fox travelled to the West Bank city of Ramallah, where he inked another trade continuity agreement with the Palestinian Authority. While a statement from the British Trade Secretary acknowledged the agreement with the Palestinians did not bear significant economic value, he stressed that it served as a “symbolic element” of London’s commitment to the Palestinian cause.