UK and Israel to sign deal strengthening tech, trade and security ties

Timing will be seen as mark of approval for Israel’s far-right government

The UK and Israel will sign a document on Tuesday strengthening ties in the fields of defence, security and technology following plans announced last year to put relations between the two countries on an elevated footing.

The timing of the agreement is controversial since it will be seen as a mark of approval for Israel’s far-right government, which has put settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank at the top of its agenda, and faces a massive backlash over plans to neuter the role of the judiciary.