Israeli Official Shai Masot Discusses 'Idiot' Boris Johnson And How To 'Take Down' Sir Alan Duncan

Israeli's ambassador has apologised.
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Israel’s ambassador to the UK has apologised after an embassy official was caught in an undercover sting discussing how to “take down” a UK minister and describing Boris Johnson as an “idiot”.

In a secretly-recorded conversation, the Israeli Embassy’s senior political officer Shai Masot suggested that Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan. was causing “a lot of problems” but appeared to dismiss his boss.

The conversation which appeared to have a slightly jovial tone, was recorded as part of an investigation by Al Jazeera, involved Masot and an aide to Tory minister Robert Halfon, as well as an undercover reporter.

A still from the footage captured by Al Jazeera.
A still from the footage captured by Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera

The reporter - known as Robin - posed as a graduate activist with strong sympathies towards Israel who was keen to help combat the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement prominent in Britain.

Masot’s comments about wanting to “take down” Sir Alan were made at the Aubaine restaurant, directly opposite the Israeli Embassy in Kensington, west London, the Mail on Sunday reported.

@guardian isreal - the "ally" that spies on us and meddles in our affairs while violating human rights and international law

— Jarrett Kerbel (@WJKerbel) January 7, 2017

Also present at the dinner in October 2016 was Maria Strizzolo, an aide to education minister Halfon, the former political director of Conservative Friends of Israel, reports the Press Association.

Masot asked her: “Can I give you some names of MPs that I would suggest you take down?”

MP Alan Duncan with his cockapoo Noodle, who was announced as the winner of the Westminster Dog of the Year competition in 2013.
MP Alan Duncan with his cockapoo Noodle, who was announced as the winner of the Westminster Dog of the Year competition in 2013.
Geoff Caddick/PA Archive

Strizzolo replied that all MPs have “something they’re trying to hide” and Masot responded by saying “I have some MPs”, adding “she knows which MPs I want to take down” before specifying “the deputy foreign minister”.

@guardian We can't allow impetuous young diplomats to destabilize relations...

— (((NathanaelStCyr))) (@NathanaelStCyr) January 8, 2017

Sir Alan, who has been critical of Israel, was seen as more of a problem than Foreign Minister Johnson who was “basically good”, according to Masot in a transcript of the conversation.

“He just doesn’t care. He is an idiot but has become minister of foreign affairs without any responsibilities. If something real happened it won’t be his fault... it will be Alan Duncan.

“Duncan is impossible to rebuff ... he has a lot of friends.”

@guardian As much as I dislike the Tories this can't be acceptable. I wonder if this person is behind the Labour anti-Semitism furore.

— Lane (@LaneThomaHewitt) January 8, 2017

Tory chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Crispin Blunt, who was also referred to by Masot, told the Mail on Sunday the comments about Sir Alan were “outrageous”.

Strizzolo told the newspaper that her conversation with Masot was “tongue-in-cheek and gossipy”, adding: “Any suggestion that I ... could exert the type of influence you are suggesting is risible.”

She said she knew Masot “purely socially and as a friend. He is not someone with whom I have ever worked or had any political dealings beyond chatting about politics, as millions of people do, in a social context”.

@guardian @jpublik Imagine if it was, ooh I dunno, a labour SPAD and a let's say Palestinian....

— Jamie Crawford (@Cut_Thumb) January 8, 2017

In a statement the Israeli Embassy said it “rejects the remarks concerning Minister Duncan, which are completely unacceptable; the comments were made by a junior embassy employee who is not an Israeli diplomat, and who will be ending his term of employment with the embassy shortly.

“Ambassador Regev on Friday spoke with Minister Duncan, apologised for the comments and made clear that the embassy considered the remarks to be completely unacceptable.”

The Foreign Office said Israel’s ambassador Mark Regev had apologised.

A spokesman said: “The Israeli Ambassador has apologised and is clear these comments do not reflect the views of the Embassy or Government of Israel. The UK has a strong relationship with Israel and we consider the matter closed.”

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