IAN Murray has said new trade talks between the UK and Israel are "great news" for Scotland.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds announced on Monday that trade talks would be reopened with the country, leading to accusations that the UK was "rewarding Israel for its war crimes".
The country's bombardment of Gaza is in its ninth month, with the death toll in the territory passing 39,000 people last week.
Murray said: “Trade talks resuming between the UK Government and our global business partners is great news for Scotland.
"Brand Scotland means selling our country and all the amazing things we have to offer to the world and that is exactly what we intend to do.
“I look forward to ensuring Scotland’s trade interests are championed on a worldwide scale.”
Besides Israel, trade talks will be opened with a range of other nations, including South Korea, Switzerland, and Turkey.
The announcement that trade talks with Israel would be reopened was met with condemnation in some quarters.
Tim Bierley from Global Justice Now said: "The government is effectively rewarding Israel for its war crimes, pursuing deeper trade ties even while the country is committing grave human rights abuses in Gaza.
"As millions of people are living on the edge of famine in Gaza and Israeli bombs continue to rain down on civilian centres, the UK should be using all its means to force a ceasefire.
"This means suspending trade preferences and talks with Israel, not cosying up further to a regime that flies in the face of international law.”
The announcement comes as tensions flare in the Middle East after a rocket launched from Lebanon killed 12 children in the Israeli-administered Golan Heights on Sunday.
